f 


tihrary  of  Che  t:heolo0ical  ^tminavj^ 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 

Part  of  the  Addison  Alexander  Librarj^ 
which  was  presented  by 

Messrs.  R.L.  and  A.  Stuart 


BR  345  .H67 

1856 

Hottinger,  Johann 

Jakob, 

1783-1860. 

The  life  and  times 

.  of 

Ulri< 

r^T.T  -i  V%  /->f  1   -1 

^ 


0cC^^  H.Mr& . 


JUN  17  19S 


^ 


r. 


THE 


i(UL  St' 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ULRIC    ZWINGLL 


TRANSLATED     FROM     THE     QEEMAlff 


J.  J.  HOTTmGER. 


THE  REV.  PROF.  T.  C.  PORTER, 

or  FRANKLIN   AND  MARSOALL  COLLiGE,  LANCASTER,  PA. 


HARRISBURG: 
PUBLISHED  BY  THEO.  F.  SCHEFFER. 

1856. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 
TiiEO.  F,  ScHEFFER,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  United  States   fc**  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


^ui\fix*s   |rHat^ 


"Biographers  should  not  busy  themselves  so  much  with 
deeds,  as  their  moving  causes;  with  what  motives,  by  what 
means,  for  what  ends  and  under  what  circumstances  they  were 
performed.  If  we  limit  ourselves  to  a  simple  detail  of  facts, 
our  judgment  is  determined  by  success;  and  upright  men  are 
condemned  as  evil  or  imprudent,  because  of  the  unfavorable 
issue  of  their  endeavors.  To  set  forth  the  views  of  Zwingli 
and  the  high  mark  to  which  he  strove  to  carry  everything,  were 
dangerous — would  open  a  wide  door  to  envy  and  calumniation, 
and  would  not  be  permitted  by  the  government  of  Zurich; 
since  it  would  be  a  violation  of  the  Land/ricde,  various  resolu- 
tions of  the  cities  and  the  Hereditary  Union  with  Austria. 
"Without  this,  however,  the  history  of  his  life  would  be  dry, 
and  posterity  would  neither  admire  nor  love  Zwingli,  but  re- 
gard him  as  a  thoughtless,  foolish  man.  The  unhappy  catas- 
trophe has  placed  everything  in  a  false  light." 

The  foregoing  remarks  of  Bullinger  show  with  what  caution 
our  forefathers  were  obliged  to  speak  of  Zwingli's  political  acts. 
Indeed,  after  the  battle  of  Cappel  they  were  looked  upon  with 
little  favor,  even  in  the  Reformed  portion  of  the  Confederacy. 
Bullinger  himself,  Zwingli's  successor,  was  for  the  moment 
filled  with  despondency.  He  wrote  to  his  friend,  Myconius: 
''We  will  never  come  together  again.  No  one  trusts  his  neigh- 
bor any  longer.  Surely,  surely,  we  live  in  the  last  times.  It 
is  all  over  with  the  Confederacy."     The  passage  above-cited 


IV  AUTHOR  S    PREFACE. 

was  written  perhaps  at  this  juncture.  But  he  soon  recovered 
his  courage.  His  confidence  in  God  returned  with  renewed 
strength,  and  he  then  began  that  career,  which  was  so  active, 
so  noble  and  so  full  of  blessing.  He  continued  the  work  of 
his  illustrious  predecessor,  and  described  it  also  with  a  powerful 
pen  and  a  reverent  heart,  leaving  behind,  for  thoughtful  read- 
ers at  least,  intimations  of  what  he  durst  not  wholly  reveal 
to  his  contemporaries.  Three  centuries  have  since  gone  by, 
and  unrestricted  access  to  archives  and  multiplied  investiga- 
tions have  brought  to  light  reports  and  documents  hitherto 
unknown.  From  these  materials,  the  author  endeavored,  fifteen 
years  ago,  to  delineate  the  life  -and  times  of  Zwingli.  That 
volume  was  designed  for  those,  who  study  history  as  a  science  : 
the  aim  of  this  one  is  to  present  the  same  results  in  a  popular 
form.  And  as  our  people,  now  a-days,  pay  so  much  attention 
to  what  is  written  and  spoken,  let  them  hear  once  more  the 
voice  of  one  of  the  noblest  statesmen  of  former  ages  ;  let  them 
consider  his  acts,  and  ponder  over  his  sad  fate.  If  we  regard 
him  merely  as  a  reformer  of  the  Church,  he  may  perhaps  appear 
to  us  surrounded  by  a  brighter  glory ;  but  history  demands  a 
full  representation,  and  such  a  representation  exhibits  him  as 
a  man  ''possessed  of  like  passions  with  ourselves.'^  Yet,  just 
in  the  acknowledgement  of  his  own  infirmities  by  Zwingli,  and 
in  his  submission  with  humble  faith  to  a  Higher  Power,  do  the 
unmistakable  features  of  true  religion  shine  victoriously  above 
that  worship  of  self  which  springs  only  from  vain  conceit. — 
May  the  following  work  produce  the  same  conviction  in  the 
mind  of  the  reader  ! 


The  volume,  here  translated,  was  publislied  in  Zurich  in  the 
year  1842,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the  fullest  and  most  reliable 
history  of  Zwingli  and  his  times  that  has  yet  appeared ;  for,  in 
addition  to  the  numerous  works,  in  Latin  and  German,  which 
relate  to  this  particular  period,  the  author  has  had  free  accesa 
to  an  immense  mass  of  important  and  necessary  state-papers, 
long  buried  in  the  archives  of  the  Canton. 


&Q\\lt\Xt$ 


CHAPTER  FIRST.  Pa//e. 

Zvangli's  youth.     His  labors  in  Glarus  and  Eiusiedeln,  7 

CHAPTER    SECOKD. 

Zwingli  in  Zurich.  Beginning  of  the  Reformation.  Po- 
litical aud  ecclesiastical  afiairs  up  to  the  first  lieligious 
Conference, 53 

CHAPTER   THIRD. 

Religious  Conference  in  Zurich.  The  government  takes 
the  place  of  the  Bishop  for  the  protection  and  superin- 
tendence of  the  National  Church,  -         -         -       106 

CHAPTER   rOURTH. 

Danger  of  the  Eeformatioa  and  Zwingli's  battle  against 
them,  ^        .         .        -         -         .         -        -       164 

CHAPTER    FIFTH. 

Defence  of  the  Old  Order.     Rise  of  the  New,      -        -       203 

CHAPTER    SIXTH. 

Organization  of  the  parties.    Breach  of  the  general  peace,       258 

CHAPTER    SEVENTH. 

First  Campaign.     Zwingli  and  Luther,         -         -         -       283 

CHAPTER     EIGHTH. 

Internal  condition  of  Switzerland  after  the  first  campaign. 
The  Abbot  of  St.  Gall.  Political  results  of  the  Marburg 
Conference,  __-.---       322 

CHAPTER     NINTH. 

Vain  attempts  at  reconciliation.  Exportation  of  corn 
prohibited.  Outbreak  of  War.  Battle  of  Capple. 
Zwingli's  death,  370 


CHAPTER  FIRST 


ZWINGLI'S  YOUTH.   HIS  LABORS  IN  GLARUS  AND  EINSIEDELN. 

A  /-^  .^^^"^^^ffSi^^-^  ^^^  source  of  the  river  Thur, 

n=^  -      -   ''K  .^iahl^o'wHIn^  -j^  Wildhaus,  a  mountain-village  of 

tlie   Toggenburg,  lived  the  bailiff 
Ulric  Zwingli,  vrith  his  wife  Marga- 
retta  Meili,  in  moderate  circumstan- 
ces and  universal    esteem.     Eight 
-  3ns  and  two  daughters  were  the  fruit  of  their  mar- 
riao-e.     The  third  of  these  sons,  born  on  the  first  of 
January  1484,  seven  weeks  after  Luther's  birth-day, 
received  the  name  of  his  father,     A  brother  of  the 
r'  bailiff,    Bartholomew    Zwingli,    was    chosen    by  the 

W0^:^  burghers  of  Wildhaus,  who  a  short  time  before  had 
separated  from  the  mother-church  of  Glarus,  as  the  first  pastor 
of  the  new  congregation.  The  mother  also  had  a  brother  of 
the  clerical  order,  John  Meili,  abbot  of  Fischingen.  A  pious 
and  friendly  man,  he  loved  the  children  of  his  sister,  as  if  they 
were  his  own.  In  the  bosom  of  an  honest  family,  breathing 
the  pure  cool  air  of  a  green  Alpine  region,  amid  the  simple 
pleasures  of  a  shepherd's  life,  the  little  Ulric  grew  up  vigorously, 
quick-witted,  looking  out  into  the  world  with  clear  eyes,  and 
though  somewhat  rude  like  his  countrymen,  yet  gifted  with 
senses  fully  alive  to  the  beauties  of  nature  and  the  harmonies 
of  voice  and  instrument. 

3 


4  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

The  era'ly  signs  of  promise;  wliicli  he  gavC;  were  the  means 
of  opening  for  him  the  path  to  scientific  culture.  His  uncle, 
being  made  deacon  at  Wesen,  left  Wildhaus  in  1487,  and  took 
the  boy  with  him.  By  his  help  and  that  of  the  teacher  at 
Wesen,  he  was  prepared  in  his  tenth  year  to  enter  the  Theo- 
dore School  at  Little  Basely  whither  he  now  went,  again  sup- 
ported and  recommended;  as  is  probable^  by  his  uncle. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  introduce  some  notice  of  the  edu- 
cational system  of  that  age. 

Lowest  in  rank  appear  the  German  schools.  Here  and  there 
teachers  were  provided  for  them  by  the  parish-officers,  but  in 
other  places  the  supply  was  left  to  accident.  Older  students, 
under  the  name  of  lehrmeister,  traveled  around,  oftentimes 
with  wives,  practising  their  vocation  and  hiring  themselves  out 
for  longer  or  shorter  periods.  Two  well-painted  placards  of 
these  strolling  masters  are  preserved  in  the  library  at  Basel. 
They  exhibit  the  interior  of  a  school-room.  On  one  the  chil- 
dren are  sitting  and  kneeling  on  the  floor  with  their  books, 
whilst  the  master,  rod  in  hand  is  teaching  a  boy  at  his  desk 
and  his  wife  a  girl  in  the  opposite  corner;  the  other  represents 
a  chamber  in  which  older  scholars  are  receiving  instruction. 
The  following  advertisement  is  written  beneath  both : 

"Whoever  wishes  to  learn  to  write  and  read  German  in  the 
veiy  quickest  way  ever  found  out,  though  he  does  not  know  a 
single  letter  of  the  alphabet,  can  in  a  short  time  get  enough 
here  to  cast  up  his  own  accounts  and  read;  and  if  any  one  be 
too  stupid  to  learn,  as  I  have  taught  him  nothing  so  will  I 
charge  him  nothing,  be  he  who  he  may,  burgher  or  apprentice, 
woman  or  girl ;  whoever  comes  in,  he  will  be  faithfully  taught 
for  a  small  sum,  but  the  young  boys  and  girls  after  the  Ember 
weeks,  as  the  custom  is.     1516." 

To  all,  who  were  unable  to  obtain  the  necessary  elementary 
instniction  at  homo,  or  even  perhaps  in  the  monasteries,  these 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  5 

schools  were  open.  Children  and  adults  frequently  sat  on 
the  same  bench.  Of  course^  there  was  nothing  like  thor- 
ough knowledge  among  the  masters,  nothing  like  a  division 
into  classes,  or  a  comprehensive  plan  of  instruction.  Just  as 
the  natural  talent  of  the  teacher  was  greater  or  less,  were  the 
results  better  or  worse.  And  yet  such  was  the  only  education 
of  a  large  majority  of  the  burghers.  Indeed  thousands  were 
destitute  even  of  this. 

Boys,  designed  for  a  higher  training,  sons  of  the  wealthy,  or 
of  the  poor,  who  were  so  fortunate  as  to  meet  with  encourage- 
ment to  a  noble  effort,  passed  over  into  the  Latin  schools,  into 
one  of  which  we  now  see  Zwingli  enter. 

In  these  schools,  found  in  most  of  the  larger  and  sometimes 
also  in  the  smaller  towns,  the  teachers  were  usually  clergymen, 
who  received  annually  a  moderate  salary  and  a  coat  from  the 
public  treasury,  or  oftener  still  from  the  revenues  of  pious 
foundations.  For  their  better  maintenance,  where  the  found- 
ation could  not  give  them  a  full  support,  they  were  permitted 
to  accept  school-money  and  even  provisions.  The  poor  scholars 
earned  this  money  by  singing  in  companies  before  houses  on 
new-year  and  other  holidays. 

The  course  of  instruction  embraced  three  branches :  Latin 
G-rammar,  Music,  (especially  the  art  of  singing,)  and  Logic. 
The  study  of  the  latter,  which  ought  to  teach  how  to  give  clear 
expression  to  thought,  was  for  the  most  part  time  wasted  amid 
useless  subtleties  and  verbiage.  The  reputation  of  the  school 
depended  altogether  on  the  character  of  the  teacher.  As  soon 
as  he  had  made  himself  master  of  the  prescribed  course,  he 
either  added  to  it  new  branches,  or  at  least  understood  how  to 
render  it  profitable.  But  his  main  endeavor  was  to  stimulate 
the  youthful  mind  by  his  own  mental  activity.  To  such  a 
teacher  hundreds  of  scholars  flocked  from  all  quarters. 

The  following  regulations,  taken  from  one  at  Bruck,   will 


6  LIFE    OF   ZVriNGLI. 

give  US  some  insiglit  into  the  state  of  discipline  among  schools 
of  this  kind. 

"  The  schoolmaster  shall  take  in  school  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  in  summer,  and  at  six  in  the  winter,*  give  lessons  to 
each  one  according  to  his  rank,  age  and  capacity,  and  explain 
them  well  arid  mannei'ly,  hearing  them  at  the  proper  time,  and 
pointing  out  to  the  boys  their  mistakes  and  failures,  so  that  by 
this  means  they  may  acquire  skill  and  honor.  After  lunch, 
he  shall  come  to  school  at  eleven  o'clock,  except  on  festival 
days,  and  then  at  twelve,  to  give  lessons  and  instniction  till 
four,  if  that  be  the  usual  hour  of  leaving  off  work  for  the  day. 
In  the  evenings  he  shall  teach  them  Latin  and  penmanship 
faithfully  and  modestly,  and  keep  them  as  busy  as  possible,  so 
that  they  may  get  a  good  and  gentle  training  and  be  preserved 
from  idle  talk,  quarrels,  and  brawls.  He  shall  charge 
them  to  talk  little  and  use  few  words,  and  when  in  and  out  of 
school  to  speak  with  each  other  in  Latin;  but  with  their  parents 
and  the  peoi^le  at  home  they  may  talk  German.  He  shall  teach 
them  the  cantum  in  verse,  antiphonies  (  alternate  chanting  in 
choirs),  intonations  (singing  along  with  the  priest),  hymns 
and  requiems  in  various  ways,  suited  to  the  time  and  occasion. 
He  shall  earnestly  exhort  them  to  behave  with  decorum  in  the 
church,  the  choir,  the  church-yard  and  the  belfry,  to  abstain 
from  disputing,  shouting,  huzzaing  and  bell-ringing,  either  in, 
upon  or  around  the  church,  and  also  not  to  touch  the  bells,  at 
peril  of  being  stripped  and  flogged  soundly  from  top  to  toe. 
When  school  is  out  they  shall  go  together  before  the  charnel- 
house  and  each  one  shall  repeat  with  devotion  a  pater  noster, 
an  ave  maria  or  the  psalm  de  prof  unci  is  and  then  return  home 
quietly.  Striking  each  other  with  satchels,  pinching,  spitting, 
fighting  and  stone-throwing,  shall  be  punished  by  the  rod.  The 
schoolmaster  shall  beat  them  with  rods,  and  not  with  his  fist  or 

*  Dumev  was  eaten  at  ten,  or  at  the  furthest  eleven  o'elock. 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  7 

staff,  and  particularlj  not  on  the  head,  lest,  on  account  of  tlieir 
youth,  he  might  thereby  do  great  damage  to  the  organ  of 
memory.  ^^ 

Thus  the  rod  was  formerly  the  chief  means  of  school-discip- 
line. And  even  far  into  the  era  of  the  Reformation  a  yearly 
holiday  was  observed  under  the  name  of  ^'The  Procession  of 
the  Rods, "  in  which  all  the  pupils  of  the  schools  went  out  in 
the  summer  to  the  woods,  and  came  back  heavily  laden  with 
birch-twigs,  cracking  jokes  by  the  way  and  singing  : 

Ye  fathers  and  ye  mothers  good, 

See  us  with  the  birchen  wood 

Loaded,  coming  home  again  ; 

For  our  profit  it  shall  serve, 

Not  for  injury  or  pain. 

Your  will  and  the  command  of  God 

Have  prompted  us  to  bear  the  rod 

On  our  own  bodies  thus  to-day, 

Not  in  angry,  sullen  mood, 

But  with  a  spirit  glad  and  gay 

The  greater  part  of  the  male  students  were  animated  by  a 
wild  and  reckless  spirit,  the  result  of  a  fickle  roving  from  town 
to  town.  The  pretext  for  this  course  was  the  necessity  of 
hunting  up  skilful  teachers ;  but  with  many  it  was  only  love 
for  a  career  of  frolic  and  idleness.  The  oldest  and  strongest 
scholars,  young  men  of  twenty  and  upwards,  each  of  whom  had 
a  different  plea  to  urge,  set  the  example.  By  the  promise  of  a 
living  free  of  cost  and  instruction  in  the  rudiments  they 
attracted  to  themselves  younger  boys,  who,  as  soon  as  they  had 
crossed  the  boundaries  of  their  father-land,  were  converted  into 
servants  and  compelled  to  beg  or  steal  money  and  provisions  for 
the  common  treasury.  Thomas  Platter,  a  native  of  Valais, 
when  a  child,  nine  years  of  age,  followed  such  a  wandering 
student  and  traveled  with  him  through  Germany  as  far  as  the 
borders  of  Poland  without  ever  learning  to  read,  until  in  his 


8  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

eigliteenth  year,  lie  received  for  the  first  time  better  instmction 
in  Schlettstadt  and  afterwards  in  Zuricli.  He  has  left  us  a  pic- 
ture of  his  student-life  in  an  autobiography,  extracts  from  which 
are  found  in  a  number  of  works.  It  can  easily  be  imagined 
how  several  thousand  scholars  of  this  roving  cast,  who  all  sub- 
sisted on  alms,  should  frequently  meet  together  in  one  town. 
The  younger  ones,  called  archers,  spent  the  night  in  the  school- 
houses,  and  the  older  ( bacchanalians )  in  little  chambers 
specially  reserved  for  their  accommodation.  In  summer  they 
all  lay  together  in  the  church-yards  with  the  grass  for  a  bed. 
Wo  to  the  chickens,  the  geese  and  the  fruit-trees,  where  such  a 
troop  passed  by !  Here  one  man  hissed  his  dogs  on  them, 
while  there  another  gave  them  a  friendly  welcome,  and  in  re- 
turn for  as  much  beer  as  they  could  drink,  obtained  information 
about  foreign  countries  and  stories  of  their  travels.  The 
roughest  class  of  teachers  often  joined  them  in  their  revels  and 
often  others  at  the  head  of  their  trusty  followers  sallied  out  to 
drive  the  truants  into  school,  who,  when  assailed,  retreated  to 
the  roofs  of  the  houses,  sending  down  showers  of  stones,  till  the 
citizens  or  the  watchmen  broke  in  among  them  and  quelled  the 
riot. 

It  was  Zwingli's  good  fortune  to  be  saved  from  such  a  life  of 
adventure.  George  Binzli,  his  teacher  in  Basel,  was,  in  the 
words  of  an  old  writer,  an  excellent,  not  unlearned  man,  of 
a  very  amiable  disposition.  He  took  a  great  liking  to  Zwingli, 
who  soon  stood  in  the  foremost  rank  among  his  school-fellows, 
a  master  in  debate  and  the  possessor  of  an  extraordinary  talent 
for  music.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he  finished  his  course  in 
the  Theodore  School,  and  departed,  cherishing  an  esteem  and 
gratitude,  not  lost  in  after  life,  toward  Binzli,  by  whose  advice 
also  he  now  went  to  Bern,  and  entered  a  higher  class  under 
the  care  of  Henry  Woelfli. 

At  an  earlier  day  Latin  was  taught  chiefly  for  the  purposes 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  9 

of  divine  worsliip,  wliicli  consisted,  for  the  most  part,  of  cliant- 
ing  and  tlie  saying  of  masses  in  this  language,  to  the  common 
people  an  unknown  tongue.  A  knowledge  of  it  was  derived 
from  stupid  manuals,  that  only  furnished  the  scholars  with  a 
stock  of  words,  which,  though  not  well  understood  even  hy 
themselves,  were  stuffed  into  their  sermons,  in  order  to  gain 
credit  for  learning  with  the  ignorant  multitude. 

But  after  the  invention  of  the  art  of  printing,  the  most  im- 
portant works  of  the  ancient  Romans,  extant  only  in  a  few  veiy 
costly  manuscripts,  were  given  to  the  world  by  the  press. 
These,  teachers  of  ability  first  took  up  and  studied,  and  then 
explained  to  their  scholars.  What  a  wide  contrast  between 
such  education  and  that  of  a  former  period  !  Here,  instead  of 
cornipt  monk's  Latin,  the  young  men  became  acquainted  with 
a  highly  cultivated,  clear,  powerful  language,  and,  at  the  same 
time  also,  with  the  history  of  the  most  celebrated  republic  of 
antiquity,  which,  to  the  Swiss,  themselves  the  citizens  of  a 
free  country,  was  full  of  interest.  Woelfli,  we  know,  followed 
this  path  in  his  teaching.  "  From  him,"  says  Myconius,  the 
biographer  and  friend  of  Zwingli,  "he  obtained  his  first 
knowledge  of  the  classic  authors  (so  well  preserved  through  so 
many  centuries),  acquired  a  flowing,  harmonious  style,  and 
learned  how  to  distinguish  facts  and  exercise  his  judgment 
upon  them."  Woelfli  had  visited  Jerusalem  as  a  zealous  pil- 
grim, and  would  often  speak  of  the  journey  to  his  scholars,  who 
also  saw  that  he  was  busied  with  the  history  of  his  native  land 
and  that  every  story  of  the  olden  time  was  sacred  in  his  eyes. 
But  to  Zwingli  the  most  pleasant  hours  were  those  spent  in  the 
practice  of  music.  With  astonishing  rapidity  he  learned  to  play 
on  ail  the  kinds  of  instruments  then  known.  This  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  heads  of  the  Dominicans  at  Bern.  Envious 
at  the  greater  concourse  of  people,  that  crowded  to  the  Fran- 
ciscans^ these  monks  sought  to  raise  against  the  fallen  reputation 


10  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

of  their  monastery.  To  secure  for  themselves  talent,  so  promis- 
ing as  that  of  Zwingli,  was  a  thing  much  to  be  desired ;  but 
happily  for  himself  and  for  his  father-land,  the  young  man  re- 
jected their  offers.  A  short  time  after,  four  of  these  cursed 
hypocrites  had  to  atone  by  death  at  the  stake  for  a  diversion, 
just  as  crael  as  it  was  horrible,  the  performing  of  bloody 
miracles  fur  the  deception  of  pious  simplicity. 

Zwingli  had  now  lived  three  years  in  Bern,  and  was  already 
fully  ripe  for  the  university.  With  loving  remembrances  he 
bade  farewell  to  his  faithful  teacher,  who  was  yet  to  become  his 
pupil  and  in  old  age  dedicate  a  few  sad  verses  to  the  hero,  who 
fell  at  Cappel. 

At  that  time  the  young  Swiss  chiefly  resorted  to  the  univer- 
sities of  Basel,  Paris,  Vienna,  Cracow  and  Pavia.  That  of 
Vienna  was  selected  for  Zwingli,  which  he  entered  in  the  same 
year  ( 1490  ),  that  saw  his  country  triumph  over  the  dangers 
of  the  Swabian  war.  lie  there  united  himself  in  close  inti- 
macy with  two  other  gifted  fellow-countrymen,  Joachim  of 
Waat  (Vadianus)  from  St.  Gall,  and  Henry  Loriti  (Glareanus) 
from  Glarus.  Meanwhile  he  appears  to  have  devoted  more 
attention  to  general  culture  than  to  such  branches  of  knowledge 
as  might  aid  him  in  the  exercise  of  a  particular  calling.  Above 
all,  philosophy  had  to  be  studied ;  a  truly  noble  science,  if  by 
it  be  understood  the  acquisition  of  tinith,  as  far  as  it  can  be 
reached  by  the  deductions  of  human  reason.  But  such  was 
not  the  character  of  philosophy  then  in  vogue.  Under  the 
tyi'anny  of  a  degenerate  church,  the  powers  of  the  mind,  not 
permitted  to  unfold  in  an  element  of  freedom,  were  wasted 
amid  trifling  and  often  silly  examinations  and  questions,  con- 
ducted with  a  ludicrous  show  of  importance.  A  certain  kind 
of  sagacity  often  displayed  itself  in  their  ingenious  replies,  and 
he  who  could  produce  the  most  singular  was  regarded  by  many 
as  the  most  learned. 


.VV'  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  ^  11 

It  does^fall  within  the  scope  of  this  description  to  hold  up 
to  ridicule  opinions,  which  others  esteem  holy.  Examples, 
familiar  to  those  versed  in  books,  are  therefore  omitted.  The 
dangerous  side  of  this  so-called  philosophy  did  not  lie  so  much 
in  isolated  expressions  as  in  its  whole  tendency  to  cripple  the 
spirit  and  harden  the  heart,  so  that  victory  might  be  rendered 
more  sure  and  easy  to  the  cunning  talker,  who  strove,  not  for 
the  cause  of  tmth,  but  for  his  own  private  advantage.  In  the 
school  of  the  clear-seeing,  free-speaking  Romans  Zwingli  soon 
learned  how  to  sift  the  scandalous  game,  carried  on  under  the 
banners  of  wisdom,  to  distinguish  fallacy  from  truth,  and  to 
despise  from  the  bottom  of  his  soul  this  false  philosophy,  the 
art  of  passing  oif  black  for  white,  and  of  leading  both  parties 
by  the  nose  with  the  same  blinding  toiTcnt  of  words,  in  brief, 
the  whole  brood  of  lies  and  everything  belonging  to  it. 

Although  it  could  only  have  been  through  the  medium  of 
translations  or  abridgments,  he  already  seems  to  have  made 
some  acquaintance  with  the  works  of  the  Greeks.  In  profound 
speculation  and  in  matters  of  art  and  taste  they  were  the 
teachers  of  the  Romans,  who,  in  spite  of  national  pride,  were 
willing  to  acknowledge  them  as  such.  Even  to  this  day,  their 
sages,  Plato  and  Aristotle,  must  be  studied  by  all,  who  are  not 
content  with  a  mere  supei-ficial  knowledge  of  philosophy.  Their 
historians  entered  fully  into  the  character  of  the  persons  and 
of  the  times,  which  they  portrayed,  and  in  their  poets  a  loftier 
inspiration  nded.  One  of  these,  Pindar,  is  thus  described  by 
Zwingli  at  a  later  period  :  "  He  is  the  prince  of  poets.  He 
has  a  tme,  holy,  incon-uptible  mind.  Every  expression,  that 
he  uses,  be  it  ever  so  common,  he  makes  noble.  No  one  can 
either  give  to  him  or  take  from  him  without  injury.  In  him 
is  found  a  worthy,  powerful  representation  of  antiquity.  It 
lives  again  before  our  eyes.  His  poetry  flows  like  a  clear 
stream;  all  is  noble,  charming,  perfect.     In  a  lofty  style  he 


12  LTI'E    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

discourses  of  tlie  gods,  and  it  can  bo  easily  seen  that  he  meant 
thereby  the  one,  divine,  heavenly  power.  No  Grecian  author 
serves  so  well  for  the  interpretation  of  Holy  Scripture,  especial- 
ly of  the  Psalms  and  Job,  which  rival  him  in  sublimity/' 

The  young  men  turned  their  attention  also  to  the  mysteries 
of  nature,  the  discoveries  in  geography  and  the  illimitable 
kingdom  of  worlds,  revealed  to  us  by  a  glance  at  the  darkened 
heavens.  In  after  life  Glareanus  won  for  himself  considerable 
fame  by  his  researches  in  the  department  of  ancient  geography, 
and  Vadianus,  when  quite  an  old  man,  gathered  around  him  a 
troop  of  burghers  from  St.  Gall,  full  of  wonder  and  a  desire  to 
learn,  as  they  lay  encamped,  one  stany  night,  on  the  summit 
of  the  Freudenberg,  and  spoke  to  them  of  the  motion  of  the 
heavenly  bodies  and  the  laws,  that  govern  them,  and  strength- 
ened their  hopes  of  an  eternal  existence  in  the  immeasurable 
realms  of  space 

The  three  friends,  thus  closely  joined  in  noble  endeavor, 
lived  in  daily,  social,  intercourse  with  others,  whom  hereafter, 
when  the  more  earnest  days  of  manly  activity  have  amved,  we 
shall  find  arrayed,  as  in  the  cases  of  Eck  and  Faber,  among  the 
most  bitter  opponents  of  Zwingli. 

The  morals  of  that  period,  as  every  one  knows,  were  loose 
and  corrupt,  and  only  too  much  opportunity  was  afforded  for 
indulging  in  pleasures  of  every  kind,  especially  in  a  large  city. 
For  young  men,  left  to  their  own  guidance  in  the  heyday  of 
life,  it  was  difficult  to  keep  within  proper  bounds  on  all  sides. 
But  his  love  of  music,  that  very  thing  so  severely  blamed  in 
after  times  by  hypocritical  pietists,  was  the  means  of  preserv- 
ing Zwingli  from  every  thing  low  and  mean.  His  early  con- 
viction of  the  value  of  time  taught  him  to  be  very  sparing  of 
it,  and  the  lofty  idcaJ,  which  floated  before  him  and  his  friends, 
their  youthful  plans  of  future  greatness,  kept  them  unsoiled 
amid  the  swamps  of  temptation,  till  at  a  later  period  their  place 


lift:  of  zwincjli.  13 

was  more   eifectually  supplied   by  the  purer  influence  of  re- 
ligion. 

After  a  residence  of  two  years  abroad  the  young  Switzer  came 

back  again  to  his  native  mountains,  full  of  vigor,  sound  in  mind 

and  body,  and  amply  prepared  to  enter  upon  any  professional 

pursuit.     He  appears   to   have  remained  only  a  short  time  at 

home.     The  country  village  was  little  suited  to  the  prosecution 

of  his  further  designs.     A  situation  as  teacher  of  Ian 


£ruao;es 


was  offered  him  in  the  school  of  St.  Martin  at  Basel,  and  he 
there  began  his  public  career  inj^hej^ear  X5D2.  No  intelligence 
has  reached  us  concerning  the  nature  of  his  labors.  He  had 
probably  only  elementary  branches  to  teach ;  for  the  university, 
as  formerly  constituted,  exerted  on  the  teachei"s  of  the  founda- 
tion-schools under  its  control,  an  influence  rather  paralyzing 
than  encouraging.  Nevertheless  he  conscientiously  applied 
himself  to  his  studies  and  associated  for  this  purpose  with  Leo 
Jud^,  who,  born  two  years  earlier  than  Zwiugli  at  Rappersweier 
in  Alsace,  stood  faithfully  at  his  side  in  all  his  later  course  and 
will  yet  receive  frequent  mention  in  this  history.  He  also 
shared  with  him  his  love  of  music. 

But  now  the  period  had  arrived,  when  in  the  study  of  reli- 
gious doctrine,  the  end  and  meaning  of  their  future  life  began 
to  dawn  upon  the  minds  of  Zwingli  and  his  friend.  At  the 
same  time  a  teacher  came  to  Basel,  who  was  well  fitted  to  waken 
their  love  for  this  science  and  give  a  right  direction  to  their 
active  zeaJ.  That  man  was  Thomas  Wittenbach  of  Biel, 
hitherto  professor  at  Tubingen. 

The  world  had  then  g^rowu  weary  of  the  corruption  of  the 
clergy,  of  their  stupid  arrogance,  of  the  intolerance,  which 
would  restrict  the  divine  favor  to  the  limits  of  their  narrow 
earthly  horizon,  and  of  the  search  after  miracles,  which  was 
counted  faith,  although  a  denial  of  ti-ue  faith,  because  it  would 
grasp  with   the  hand   that  which  is  spiritual   and  not   to  be 


11  LIFE    OF   ZAYINGLI. 

appreliended,  except  wlien  a  beam  of  divine  grace  is  glowing 
on  the  altar  of  a  pure  heart.  Yet  only  so  much  the  more  did 
a  longing  after  the  communication  of  clearer  light  prevail. 

It  is  true  indeed  that  here  and  there  were  found  pious  men, 
who  in  humility  and  childlike  simplicity  wrought  works  of  love 
and  edified  their  neighbors,  by  a  redeeming  activity  and  a  spot- 
less life.  But  characters  of  this  kind  were  suited  only  to 
peaceful,  not  stormy  times,  which  called  for  bolder  leaders. 
Enemies  must  be  met  on  their  own  field,  the  weapons  of  the 
understanding  used,  and  the  arguments  of  science  advanced, 
not  in  such  a  way  however  as  to  injure  simple-minded  faith. 
This  was  the  manner  in  which  Christ  opposed  the  scepticism 
of  the  Sadducees  and  the  sophistry  of  the  Pharisees,  and  this 
is  what  is  meant  by  that  saying  of  his,  concerning  the  wisdom 
of  the  serpent  and  the  harmlessness  of  the  dove.  High  hung 
this  garland;  but  it  was  worthy  of  the  sweat  of  the  noblest, 

Wittenbach  knew  well  how  to  encourage  his  pupils  to  enter 
the  lists  and  strive  after  its  attainment.  Leo  Judoe  has  given 
authentic  testimony  to  this  efiect  in  a  letter  to  the  council  of 
Biel.  ''From  your  city,"  writes  he,  "came  forth  this  man, 
regarded  by  the  most  learned  men  of  that  age  as  a  tnie  phoenix 
on  account  of  his  manifold  acquirements.  Zmngli  and  I  en- 
joyed his  instructions  at  Basel  in  the  year  1505.  Under  his 
guidance,  from  polite  literature,  in  which  he  was  equally  at 
home,  we  passed  over  to  the  more  earnest  study  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  His  sagacity  discerned  clearly  beforehand  the 
events  of  coming  years,  the  overthrow  of  the  papal  doctrine  of 
indulgences  and  other  groundless  dogmas,  by  which,  for  many 
centuries,  Rome  had  held  unthinking  mankind  in  bondage. 
Whatever  of  thorough  knowledge  we  possess,  we  owe  it  to  him 
and  uuist  remain  his  debtors  as  long  as  we  live. " 

While  yet  in  Basel  Zwiugli  had  received  the  title  of  Magister 
(Master  of  the  Liberal  Ajts,)  but  he  never  made  any  use  of  it 


LIFE    OP    ZWINGLI.  15 

himself.     Oae  is  our  master,  he  was  accustomed  to  say,  Christ. 

But  now,  in  the  twenty-second  year  of  his  age,  he  must  leave 
Basel  also,  and  enter  on  the  proper  business  of  his  life.  John 
Stucki,  pastor  at  Glarus,  died  in  the  year  1506.  Recom- 
mended probably  by  his  uncle,  perhaps  by  his  friend  Glareanus, 
the  young  man  was  chosen  for  the  important  post.  The  Bishop 
of  Constancy  consecrated  him  to  the  priesthood  and  ratified  the 
choice. 

Through  Rappersweil,  where  he  preached  his  firet  sermon ; 
through  Wildhaus,  where  he  read  his  first  mass,  he  passed  on  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  year,  to  his  new  home.  Glams,  the  chief 
town  of  the  canton,  wai5  inhabited  by  an  active,  intelligent  pop- 
ulation, full  of  energy  and  independence.  The  new  teacher, 
who  does  not  intend  to  act  the  part  of  an  unprincipled  hireling, 
must  count  on  finding  watchful  enemies  as  well  as  friends. 
There  is  only  one  means,  by  which  to  maintain  an  erect  position, 
under  such  circumstances,  in  a  firm  adherence  to  duty  and  prin- 
ciple, and  that  is  an  unfailing  support,— trust  in  a  higher  power, 
which  never  deserts  an  honest  endeavor.  With  this  resolve, 
under  this  shield,  Zwingli  began  the  practice  of  his  calling,  not 
at  all  anxious  about  the  judgments  of  men,  nor  troubled  at  the 
remarks  of  the  multitude.  In  him  mled  the  ardent  spirit  of 
vigorous  youth,  averse  to  every  thing  that  smacked  of  devo- 
tional hypocrisy,  full  of  life  and  mirth,  sometimes  verging  even 
on  wantonness,  and  yet  so  earnest,  where  the  affairs  of  science, 
so  profound,  where  those  of  faith,  and  so  conscientious,  where 
those  of  the  congTegation  entmsted  to  his  care,  were  concerned, 
or  those  of  his  country,  in  whose  welfare  and  honor  his  heart 
was  bound  up.  If  on  this  account  he  was  called  a  friend  of 
sport;  if  Glareanus  wrote  to  him  gaily  in  monk's  Latin :  "I  am 
coming  to  you  shortly,  and  then  we  will  be  of  good  cheer  and 
play  on  the  jews'harp;"  and  if  Dingnauer,  who  promised  him, 
that  neither  envy,  nor  jealousy,  nor  the  moroseness  of  old  age, 


18  LIFE   OF   ZTVINGLI. 

nor  goldj  nor  iron  should  cripple  liis  friendship,  believed  that 
he  must  add  the  warning:  "Watch  over  your  heart,  conceal 
your  glowing  wishes,  lest  joy  be  turned  into  bitter  vexation;" 
we  yet  read,  on  the  other  hand,  what  he  himself  wi'ote  to 
Vadianus  at  Vienna :  "  I  am  now  resolved  to  devote  myself  to  the 
Greek  language  and  to  be  drawn  away  from  it  no  more.  This 
is  not  done  out  of  vanity,  for  how  little  does  pretension  become 
me  !  but  from  the  necessity  of  a  thorough  understanding  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures.''  We  find  also  that  he  wi'ote  off  the  original 
Greek  text  of  the  Epistles  of  Paul  in  the  form  of  a  small  book, 
in  order  to  have  it  continually  with  him,  and  added  in  the 
margin  the  observations  of  the  most  approved  commentators. 
In  the  year  1522,  we  hear  him  thus  speak  of  the  manner,  in 
which  he  tried  at  that  time  to  penetrate  into  the  spirit  of  these 
records :  ''  In  my  youth  I  made  as  much  advance  in  human  learn- 
ing as  any  one  of  my  age,  and  when,  six  or  seven  years  ago,  I 
devoted  my  whole  strength  to  the  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
the  philosophy  and  theology  of  the  controversialists  threw  con- 
tinual difficulties  in  my  way.  At  last  I  came  to  this  conclusion. 
I  thought :  Thou  must  lay  aside  all  these  and  get  the  meaning 
of  God  fresh  from  his  own,  simple  word.  Then  I  began  to  im- 
plore God  for  his  light,  and  the  Scripture  became  much  clearer 
to  me,  although  I  read  it  merely,  as  I  would  have  read  many 
commentaries  and  interpreters. "  The  letters  written  by  him 
and  to  him  at  this  time  show  us  plainly,  that  those  who  were 
committed  to  his  training,  especially  young  men  of  promise, 
crowded  around  him,  full  of  love  and  reverence,  and  that  he 
never  was  weary  of  giving  them  counsel,  support  and  recom- 
mendation in  foreign  countries,  of  watching  over  their  progress 
and  morals,  whilst  there,  and  of  rejoicing  in  eveiy  evidence  of 
talent  and  noble  purpose  and  helping  to  turn  them  to  practical 
account.  Glareanus  thanked  him  for  permission  to  continue  his 
studies  abroad,  though  obliged  to  give  up  a  benefice  in  I^Iollis, 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  17 

where,  "like  a  goat-lierd/'  lie  had  to  receive  a  new  election 
every  year.  The  same  fiiend  wi'ote  to  him  on  another  occasion : 
"  You  are  always  helping  those,  who  deserve  it.''  Argobast 
Stmb  of  Vienna  was  about  to  dedicate  a  commendatory  poem 
to  him,  when  death  surprised  the  ingenious  youth  and  the  sor- 
rowful Yadianus  sent  his  literary  remains  to  his  former  teacher  as 
a  pledge  of  love  from  the  departed  one.  Peter  Tschudi  wrote 
to  him  from  Paris,  "You  are  like  a  tutelar  god  to  -asf  and  his 
brother  Aegidius  in  Basel  begged  him,  "Help,  that  I  may  be 
called  back  to  you  again,  for  with  no  one  have  I  wished  rather 
to  live  than  with  you/'  Valentine  Tschudi,  the  cousin  of  the 
two  first  named,  was  yet  more  strongly  attached  to  their  beloved 
master.  "Never  will  I  cease,"  he  expresses  himself,  "to  be 
thankful  for  your  kindnesses,  especially  when  a  quartan  fever 
troubled  me  of  late,  after  my  return  from  abroad  and  because, 
on  another  occasion,  when  I  had  left  my  books  behind  in  Basel', 
you,  although  I  would  not  out  of  modesty  venture  to  be  trouble- 
some, called  me  to  you,  encouraged  me,  and  offered  me  your 
books,  your  assistance  and  your  influence.  And  thus  your  good 
will  toward  all  students  was  extended  to  me  also  and  that  not  in 
a  general  way,  for,  with  special  regard  to  my  wants,  your  exten- 
sive and  varied  stores  of  knowledge  lay  at  my  service."  This 
Valentine  Tschudi  and  Ludwig  Kosch,  "a  yet  unbearded 
youth  of  the  best  kind,"  Zwingli  had  formerly  recommended 
to  Vadianus  in  Vienna  for  the  study  of  polite  literature.  He  did 
a  similar  favor  for  his  brother  Jacob,  who  "  was  possessed  of 
extraordinary  gifts,"  and  he  charged  his  friend  "to  clip,  to  plane 
and  to  polish  the  country  youth  as  long  as  it  was  necessary,  and 
should  he  ever  kick  at  it,"  he  concluded,  "you  may  throw  him 
into  prison,  until  the  fit  is  over." 

Thus  did  this  spirited  man  endeavor  to  stir  up  all  around  him 
to  improvement,  and  exerted  the  same  influence  over  the  older 
generation  as  he  did  over  the  young.     With  the  venerable 


18  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

Aebli,  who  on  the  first  marcli  to  Cappel  prevented  the  shedding 
of  fraternal  blood,  he  formed  a  close  friendship.  Of  his  own 
accord  he  traveled  to  Basel  to  become  personally  acquainted 
with  the  celebrated  Erasmus  and  gained  his  undivided  esteem, 
for,  at  a  later  period,  he  wrote  to  him,  "Hail  to  the  Swiss  peo- 
ple, whose  character  particularly  pleases  me,  whose  studies  and 
morals  you  and  those  like  you  will  improve  1''  And  the  judge, 
]ftlk  of  Freiburg,  who  was,  it  is  true,  a  violent  partisan  of  that 
period,  but  at  the  same  time  a  patron  of  science,  offered  him,  in 
case  he  desired  to  prosecute  his  studies  for  a  season  in  quiet,  a 
beautiful  country-seat,  which  he  possessed  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Pavia,  with  the  gratuitous  enjoyment  of  its  revenues  for  two 
years.  Nevertheless,  it  is  possible  that  he  was  actuated  by  the 
concealed  design  of  winning  over  a  powerful  champion  to  his 
own  purposes. 

With  all  the  activity  of  his  spirit,  Zwingli  appears,  during 
his  stay  in  Crlarus,  to  have  kept  within  the  limits  of  the  estab- 
lished church-doctrine  in  his  public  discourses.  In  the  exposi- 
tion of  his  closing  speech  he  himself  places  the  first  beginning 
of  his  attempt  at  the  reformation  of  the  church  in  the  year 
1516,  the  same,  in  which  he  had  already  received  a  call  to  Ein- 
siedeln.  He  must  first  stand  firm  on  his  own  feet,  before  he 
can  begin  the  attack.  Hitherto,  the  Holy  Scriptures  had  been 
his  daily  and  nightly  study,  and  he  knew  the  greater  part  of 
them  literally  by  heart.  Before  this,  he  had  made  his  debut  as 
a  political  reformer,  but  of  his  doings  in  this  sphere,  we  will 
only  be  able  to  judge  rightly,  when  we  have  taken  a  view  of 
the  relations  of  the  confederates  to  their  neighbors  in  Upper 
Italy. 

Long  before  the  original  articles  of  tne  confederacy,  the 
alliance  of  the  three  Forest  Cantons  of  Dec.  9,  1815,  were  con- 
cluded, the  highways  over  Mt.  Gotthard  had  become  the  chan- 
nels of  an  active  commerce  between  Germany  and  Italy.     AVhcn 


•  LIFE    QF    ZWINGLI.  19 

tliey  were  opened  for  this  purpose  cannot  be  clearly  shown,  but 
they  were  certainly  so  used  in  the  twelfth  century.  The  in- 
habitants of  Uri,  and  paitly  also  those  of  Schwytz  and  Unter- 
waldcn  supplied  the  Italian  markets  with  their  cattle,  and  the 
mountain-valley  of  Urseren  flourished  particularly  by  means  of 
this  trade.  But  they  had  dangerous  neighbors  in  the  turbu- 
lent Lavinians  on  the  south  side  of  Gotthard.  Here  the  Swiss 
and  Italians  met  each  other  in  hostile  attitude  at  an  early 
period ;  for  the  first  time,  as  far  as  we  know,  in  the  year  1331. 
The  Lavinians  had  plundered  some  merchants  on  their  way  to 
Switzerland,  as  well  as  harrassed  the  people  of  Urseren  who 
drove  their  cattle  to  Bellinzona.  They  were  supported  in  this 
course  by  their  landlords,  the  Visconti,  Dukes  of  Milan.  Uri 
called  on  Schwytz  and  Unterwalden  for  help,  and  on  Zurich 
also,  although  it  was  not  then  included  in  the  confederacy. 
The  allies  marched  out  and  pressed  on  to  Faido,  spreading  uni- 
versal terror.  The  Greneral  Vicar  of  Como  mediated  a  peace; 
but  from  that  time  forth  we  find  the  confederates  continually 
entangled  in  the  affairs  of  Upper  Italy.  Campaigns  of  a  greater 
or  less  extent  are  undertaken,  and  treaties  struck,  broken,  and 
again  renewed.  The  chief  business  seems  to  have  been  the 
settlement  of  boundaries. 

Perhaps  it  would  have  been  better,  if  all  that  lay  on  the 
further  side  of  Gotthard  and  the  Bundtner  Alps  had  remained 
without  any  direct  communication  with  Switzerland.  There  is 
too  wide  a  difference  between  the  Italian  and  the  German  charac- 
ter. But  the  struggle  to  secure  for  their  chief  products  an  ad- 
vantageous market  had  greater  weight  with  the  three  shepherd 
cantons.  Sustained  by  their  confederation  they  soon  endeav- 
ored, sword  in  hand,  to  extend  their  boundaries  southward,  and 
in  1476  Livinen  came  under  the  acknowledged  sovereignty  of 
'  Uri,  and  in  1500  Bellinzona  with  the  adjoining  country  under 
that  of  the  Three  Cantons.     In  1503  these  changes  were  con- 


20  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

firmed  by  France,  wliich  then  liad  tlie  upper  hand  in  Lom- 
bardy. 

This  and  not  as  yet  a  corrupt  liking  for  mercenary  service 
was  the  original  occasion  of  the  campaigns  of  the  confederates 
in  Italy.  The  battles  of  Arbedo  and  Gierniko  were  fought  in 
support  of  brethren  whom  they  were  bound  by  oath  to  help. 
But  by  long-continued  habit  the  view,  that  what  was  passing 
on  the  other  side  of  Gotthard  could  not  be  indiiferent  to  their 
own  land,  took  firm  root  in  the  minds  of  the  Swiss  statesmen, 
and  therefore  it  was,  that  the  scandalous  game  of  intrigue  and 
bribery,  begun  by  Louis  XI,  by  which  France  aimed  at  the  de- 
struction of  the  Swiss  national  character,  had  a  good  opportu- 
nity of  unfolding  itself  on  Italian  ground,  where  France  under 
Charles  YIII  and  Louis  XII,  contrived  to  increase  her  own 
power,  by  arraying  Switzers  against  Switzers.  Nevertheless, 
there  were  yet,  even  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
some  among  the  Swiss  soldiers,  engaged  in  the  Italian  cam- 
paigns, who  were  animated  by  motives  nobler  than  a  thirst  for 
gold  or  plunder.  The  duty  of  upholding  sworn  treaties,  and 
the  hope  of  working  out  a  lasting  peace  for  a  frontier  so  exposed 
to  invasion  might  have  prompted  the  more  distinguished,  but 
very  often  the  common  soldiers  were  only  stimulated  by  a  love 
for  weapons  streaming  with  blood 

The  betrayal  of  Ludovico  Sforza,  surnamed  II  Moro,  at  Novara, 
in  1501,  had  indeed  greatly  shaken  the  confidence,  hitherto  nearly 
universal,  in  the  fidelity  and  honor  of  the  Swiss ;  but  even  at  home 
indignation  was  awakened  by  it,  a  severe  examination  instituted, 
and  the  chief  actor  executed  at  Altorf.  Indeed  it  seems  gen- 
erally to  have  roused  the  better  feelings  of  the  nation.  An  oath 
was  demanded  against  the  acceptance  of  pensions  and  merce- 
nary service  under  foreign  lords  j  and  a  levy  was  not  only  re- 
fused to  the  French  ambassadors,  who  had  come  into  the  coun- 
try with  new  bribes,  but  their  safe-conduct  even  was  recalled. 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT.  21 

Although  SLicli  tilings  were  enacted  by  their  diet,  j'et  cormpt 
leaders  again  practised  their  lures,  and  a  crowd  of  reckless 
youth  again  gave  ear  to  them.  But  when  France,  now  strongly 
established  in  her  domination  over  Italy  by  the  repeated  aid  of 
these  deserters,  began  by  degrees  to  treat  them  more  coldly, 
and  in  the  end  with  contempt  even,  they  appear  to  have  become 
more  wise.  Instead  of  remaining  quiet  within  their  own 
borders,  they  gave  free  rein  to  a  growing  national  hatred,  which 
the  Emperor  and  then  the  Pope,  Julius  II,  well  understood 
how  to  turn  to  their  own  profit. 

Indulgences,  blessings,  consecrated  gifts  from  the  Papal 
Chair  were  held  up  before  their  eyes  by  their  countryman,  the 
cunning,  eloquent,  indefatigable  Cardinal  Schinner,  whilst  the 
knightly  Emperor  reminded  them  that  it  would  be  nobler  to 
aid  a  plundered  prince  to  regain  what  he  had  lost  than  to  stand 
by  the  haughty  robber;  and  the  young  Duke  of  Milan,  sou  of 
that  Ludovico  Sforza,  since  dead,  who  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Novara  and  afterwards  escaped  to  Austria,  promised  them,  in 
return  for  their  help,  the  most  profitable  alliance  and  the  pos- 
session of  Lugano  and  Locarno.  And  here  for  once,  both  pri- 
vate advantage  and  public  honor  seemed  to  ran  together,  and 
hence  resulted  an  expedition,  more  numerous  and  better 
organized  than  any  former  one,  not  under  foreign  banners, 
but  under  their  own,  and  led  by  able  and  experienced  com- 
manders, the  so-called  March,  to  Pavia.  This  was  the  first 
campaign  in  which  Zv^ingli  was  personally  present. 

In  the  ardent  years  of  youth  the  national  love  of  battle 
glowed  even  in  his  bosom.  From  the  most  eminent  authors  of 
Greece  and  Rome  he  had  learned  much  of  war  and  the  history 
of  war.  He  himself  tells  us  with  what  eagerness  he  pored  over 
the  campaigns  of  Alexander,  narrated  by  Curtius,  and  those  of 
Co3sar,  written  by  his  own  hand.  But  he  did  not  rest  content 
with  deeds  of  arms  merely.     The  nature  of  the  countries  and 


22  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

the  character  of  the  people  were  full  of  interest  to  him.  He 
inquired  into  the  causes  of  wars,  and  considered  their  operations 
and  results.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend  he  thus  advises,  '^  Read 
Sallust's  description  of  the  wars  of  Jugurtha  and  Cataline's 
conspiracy.  See  in  the  former  the  insolence,  the  artifices  and 
the  lust  of  power  of  a  single  aristocrat  and  how  far  the  love  of 
money  can  lead ;  in  the  latter,  what  gifts  can  do,  and  how  they 
can  embolden  those  who  are  bribed  by  them.  Let  Appian  of 
Alexandria  then  picture  to  you  the  distraction  of  citizens  and 
civil  war,  with  banishment  and  its  consequences.  He  under- 
stands well  how  to  relate  briefly  every  thing  that  is  noteworthy. 
Whoever  begins,  can  not  lay  his  book  down,  until  he  has  fin- 
ished it. " 

We  are  by  no  means  to  regard  Zwingli  as  an  advocate  of  war. 
It  appeared  to  him  a  calamity ;  but  as  a  calamity,  which  can- 
not always  be  avoided,  for  which  one  must  be  prepared,  and 
that  the  times  of  its  coming  are  determined  in  the  plans  of 
superhuman  wisdom. 

Holding  such  views  and  persuaded  that  the  expedition  was 
lawful — in  the  line  of  right  and  duty,  he  now,  in  1512,  followed 
the  banner  of  the  Canton  Glarus  into  Italy.  According  to  an- 
cient custom,  this  was  the  duty  of  the  pastor  of  the  chief  con- 
gregation, for  where  the  banner  waved,  there  was  the  highest 
power  of  the  country.  To  every  one  in  the  warlike  assembly 
gathered  around  it,  his  voice  was  boldly  lifted  up.  In  order  to 
counsel  and  to  guide,  it  was  necessary,  that  the  most  intelligent 
should  not  be  wanting  there. 

In  a  Latin  letter  to  his  friend  Yadianus  in  Vienna,  Zwingli 
himself  has  thus  naiTatcd  the  events  of  this  campaign : 

''  Since  an  evil  report  about  the  Confederates  has  been  spread 
far  and  wide,  and  since  even  that,  which  the  result  proves  to  have 
been  just  and  innocent,  is  abused  and  misrepresented,  I  have 
undertaken  to  give  you  a  picture,  short  indeed,  but  true,  of  the 


LTIE    OF    ZWINGLI.  23 

actual  condition  of  our  affairs.  Passing  over  tlie  terms  of  a 
treaty  of  alliance,  concluded  between  the  Most  Holy  Vicegerent 
of  Christ,  Julius  II,  and  the  Confederates,  I  would  only  state, 
that  the  King  of  the  French  ( to  whom,  even  while  attacking 
the  Church  of  Christ,  some  one  gave  the  flattering  title,  "  Most 
Christian '')  wearied  out  the  Venetians  by  protracted  war,  con- 
quered in  several  hard-fought  battles,  and  captured  or  laid  waste 
their  towns ;  and  also  that  he  took  up  arms  against  the  anointed 
Head  of  the  Church;  set  up,  under  the  guidance  of  a  wicked 
demon,  an  antipope,  as  he  is  styled,  and  robbed  the  Holy  See 
of  many  large  cities,  among  which  was  Bologna,  mother  of 
the  sciences  and  nurse  of  the  common  law.  When,  at  the  close 
of  the  Easter  festival,  the  august  King  of  Spain  beheld  the  ship 
of  Peter  tossing  in  danger  on  the  threatening  waves,  the  con- 
dition of  the  Chu^::h  filled  him  with  sorrow.  As  quick  as  pos- 
sible lie  gathered  an  army  and  sent  it  to  the  aid  of  the  Papal 
troops,  who  since  winter  had  lingered  in  Middle  Italy.  Full 
of  valor  and  skilled  in  military  science,  they  approached  Ra- 
venna by  forced  marches.  But  the  French  tyi'ant  also  sent  out 
a  strong  force  to  meet  the  Spaniards  and  their  allies,  the  Ve- 
netians. '^ 

''When  the  enemy  came  in  sight,  the  Spaniards  did  not 
decline  battle.  They  had  with  them  an  engineer,  possessed  of 
the  talent  of  an  Archimedes  and  a  Daedalus.  He  had  invented 
light  sickle-wagons,  on  each  of  which  stood  a  small  mortar. 
These  they  pushed  before  them.  The  French  army  was  com- 
manded by  the  Grandmaitre.'^  In  front  he  placed  the  Swa- 
bian  landsknecht§  ;  behind  these  the  Gascons,  and  a  large  body 
of  cavalry,  on  the  wings.  The  most  select  of  these,  himself  at 
their  head,  formed  the  corps  of  observation.  At  the  signal  of 
battle,  a  shower  of  red-hot  balls  was  discharged  by  the  Spanish 
army.  The  landsknechts  were  startled.  '  Why  do  ye  stand  ? ' 
*  Gaston  of  Foix,  Duke  of  Nemours. 


24  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

— the  French  marshal  is  said  to  have  cried  out.  ^Will  ye 
wait  to  be  shot  down  ?  0  that  I  had  the  brave  Confederates 
with  me  yet ! — they  who  at  the  sight  of  any  enemy  roared  like 
raging  lious^  fell  on  him,  and  pressed  into  him !  Forwards  ! 
Whip  them,  whom  you  have  often  whipped  before !  Set  your 
swords  and  halberds  against  the  balls !'  The  landsknechts  begin 
to  advance.  And  now,  the  Spaniards  put  fire  to  the  old  wheeled- 
wagons,  and,  sheltered  by  them,  press  on  against  the  centre. 
A  ten-ific  indee  ensues.  From  sheer  fatigue  they  must  often  rest 
and  repair  their  broken  ranks.  The  battle  lasts  from  morning 
till  evening.  Already  the  greater  part  of  the  laiuhhiiechts  are 
killed,  and  the  rest  fly.  The  cavalry  also,  and  the  Gascons 
waver.  Eight  thousand  victims  cover  the  field.  The  Grand- 
tnaitre  looks  toward  heaven,  gnashes  his  teeth,  and  cries  out, 
'^  The  victory  of  the  Spaniards  shall  not  be  bloodless,  or  I  die 
this  day."  He  puts  spurs  to  his  horse.  His  trusty  followers 
come  after.  Bravely  fighting  he  falls.  But  the  enemy,  who 
expected  no  new  attack,  are  thrown  into  disorder.  The  French 
again  press  forward,  conquer,  and  take  possession  of  the  city. 
Night  only  ends  the  conflict.  Hannibal,  after  the  victory  at 
Canute,  spread  no  greater  terror  over  Borne  and  Italy.  The 
fear  of  the  French  nilc  produced  universal  lamentation.  Com- 
fort and  assistance  were  begged  for  on  all  sides.  The  Confeder- 
ates, in  view  of  thi^  state  of  things,  think,  what  a  dangerous 
example  it  would  be,  if  such  a  raging  tyrant  were  allowed  to 
make  war  on  the  Common  Mother  of  all  faithful  Christians. 
They  quickly  assemble  and  resolve  with  zeal,  to  put  the  afl^irs 
of  the  Church  and  of  Italy  into  a  better  condition.  A  legate 
of  the  cardinal  (Schinner)  makes  his  ai^pearauce,  begging  and 
imploring  them  by  their  treaty-obligations  to  set  out  at  once ; 
yet  he  can  ofl'er  no  more  than  a  gold-florin  to  the  man.  It  is 
scarcely  credible;  but  in  six  days,  notwithstanding,  20,000 
chosen  infautiy  arc   brought  together,  who  immediately  rush 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  25 

through  Graubunden,  over  the  Adige,  and  down  the  narrow 
defiles  to  Verona,  then  in  the  possession  of  the  landshicchts 
and  the  Gascons.  On  the  approach  of  the  Confederates  they 
evacuate  the  city.  The  Cardinal  again  appears  in  the  Swiss 
army  and  is  received  with  many  marks  of  honor.  Intelligence 
reaches  us  from  the  Venetians;  who  soon  come  up  with  800 
mail-clad  troopers  and  500  light-horse.  Full  of  glad  anticipa- 
tion they  behold  the  imposing  array  of  the  Confederates.  We 
advance  to  a  river*  (whose  name  I  have  not  learned)  on  the 
other  side  of  which  the  powerful  French  army  stands  strongly 
intrenched.  The  bridge,  behind  which  Valleggio  lies,  was  de- 
fended by  three  massive  towers.  The  artillery  of  the  Venetians 
compels  the  French  to  fall  back.  They  take  with  them  what 
provision  they  can  raise.  The  army  advances  to  Pontevico, 
where  the  enemy  again  makes  a  momentary  stand.  Here  a  castle 
is  built  in  the  middle  of  the  bridge,"]"  up  to  which  point  it  had 
been  broken  down.  In  the  presence  of  the  foe,  but  under  the 
protection  of  the  Venetian  cannon,  a  number  of  volunteers 
swim  over  and  fetch  back  the  boats,  which  had  been  carried 
to  the  other  side.  A  bridge  is  quickly  constructed.  But  by 
the  time  the  army  crossed  over,  the  Frenchmen  are  in  full  flight. 
Only  a  few  shots  from  the  field-pieces  are  sent  after  them. 
Conscious  that  the  state  of  their  affairs  is  desperate,  deprived 
of  the  support  of  the  Germans,  knowing  the  enemy  with  whom 
they  have  to  deal,  believing  themselves  secure  no  where,  they 
take  refuge  in  Pavia  and  await  the  result.  The  boldest  of  the 
Confederate  youth  had  cut  off  from  them  a  considerable  herd  of 
cattle,  on  which  the  army  could  have  subsisted  for  a  long  time- 
Ulric  von  Sax,  leader  of  the  Confederates,  just  as  prudent  as  he 
was  active,  resolves  to  besiege  Pavia  for  a  while,  because  he 
thinks  it  not  yet  advisable  to  take  it  by  storm.     The  French 

*  The  Mincio.  f  Over  the  Oglio. 


26  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

Btill  endeavor  to  prevent  a  passage  over  the  Pe.*  Here  an  in- 
cident happens  almost  as  incredible  as  it  is  amusing.  In  the 
French  camp  were  800  landsknechts,  survivors  of  the  defeat 
at  Ravenna.  Some  of  our  men  swim  over  the  Po,  in  order  to 
take  measures  for  the  fastening  of  a  bridge.  The  landsknechts 
sally  out  to  prevent  this.  All  the  jouth  of  the  Confederate 
army,  skilled  in  swimming,  running,  jumping,  cast  off  their 
clothes  and,  halberd  in  hand,  leap  into  the  Po,  to  fight  with 
enemies,  of  whom  they  say,  '  Would  that  God  had  given  us  such 
for  a  daily  exercise  in  the  art  of  war. '  In  fact,  they  raised  a 
warlike  laugh  as  often  as  they  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  lands- 
hneclitSy  not  because  they  esteemed  them  cowardly  and  despica- 
ble antagonists,  but  because  they  were  found  by  them  on  the 
side  of  the  enemy  and  beaten  oftener  than  they  conquered. 
Although  the  landsknechts  saw  the  naked,  white  bodies,  they 
still  fled,  giving  a  free  passage  over  the  river.  The  Confederates 
now  marched  on  to  Pavia,  which  was  surrounded  and  taken  in 
a  few  days  in  the  following  manner.  Some  single  combats  had 
preceded.  Six  Frenchmen  had  called  out  four  confederates  and 
were  killed.  Two  others  challenged  a  chamois-hunter  from  the 
Canton  of  Glarus.  This  pleased  him.  One  he  shot  down  with 
his  gun ;  the  other  he  attacked  with  the  sword.  The  French, 
trusting  the  walls  as  little  as  their  courage,  meditate  flight  and 
wish  to  cover  it  by  the  landsknechts,  whom  they  address  thus, 
^'  You  see,  brave  comrades,  be  it  chance  or  be  it  fate,  the  luck 
of  war  has  forsaken  France.  We  must  think  of  retreat,  if  we 
cannot  count  on  victory.  Our  camp  is  full  of  despair.  Your 
former  boldness  must  expect  to-day  the, most  illustrious  trial. 
Act  up  to  your  reputation!  AVe,  the  heavy  and  the  light 
armed,  will  occupy  that  part  of  the  city,  which  stretches  along 
the  ^Iincio,f  before  the  enemy  presses  in  there  and  cuts  off  the 

*  He  confounds  it  with  the  Adda,  "whicli  empties  into  the  Po. 
f  Again  a  change  of  names.     The  Ticino  is  meant. 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI.  27 

way  of  escape.  Thus  -will  we  secure  the  safety  of  all.  If  we 
cannot  conquer  now,  we  must  try  to  keep  our  lives  to  do  it 
hereafter,  as  Demosthenes  says.  So  that  no  one  may  suspect 
us  of  treachery  we  leave  with  you  the  artillery,  the  pledge  of 
our  hope."  The  credulous  foot-soldiers  (^landsknechts),  trus- 
ing  their  fair  speeches,  permitted  them  to  march  out.  But 
the  French  have  scarcely  placed  the  Mincio  ( Ticino  )  behind 
them,  when  they  take  to  flight  and  leave  the  landsknechts  in 
the  lurch.  As  soon  as  the  citizens  of  Pavia  observe  this,-  they 
promise,  on  condition  that  they  are  exempted  from  pillage,  a 
month's  pay  to  each  individual  in  the  Confederate  and  Vene- 
tian camps.  The  former  thirsted  for  a  contest  with  the  lands- 
knechts, but  this  desire  was  yet  to  cost  them  much  bitter  sweat. 
The  clumsy  artillery  of  the  besieging  army  was  drawn  up  in  the 
park,  outside  of  the  city,  under  the  guard  of  a  hundred  picked 
men,  from  different  corps.  It  was  not  yet  noon,  when  the 
women  and  the  more  aged  citizens,  unsuspected  by  the  foot- 
soldiers,  appeared  on  the  walls  and  let  down  scaling  ladders 
over  them.  The  hundred,  employed  as  a  watch  in  the  park, 
with  some  others  who  joined  ]bhem,  hasten  up,  climb  the  walls, 
and  without  the  knowledge  of  the  rest  of  the  army,  try  to  pen- 
etrate into  the  heart  of  the  city.  But  the  landsknechts  have 
artillery,  and  they  only  their  short  weapons  and  their  fiery 
courage.  Had  not  the  narrow  streets  checked  the  former,  the 
Confederates  would  all  have  been  slain.  They  try  to  conceal 
themselves  for  the  moment  behind  projections  and  sheltering 
walls;  but  then  they  suddenly  rush  out,  make  themselves  mas- 
ters of  two  pieces,  and  turn  them  against  the  enemy,  who  were 
thus  gradually  driven  back.  And  now  one  of  the  combatants 
mounts  the  wall,  and  proclaims  victory  and  the  capture  of  the 
eity.  It  is  not  believed;  a  stratagem  is  feared,  and  it  is  for- 
bidden to  approach  the  wall.  At  last,  encouraged  by  the  pro- 
longed stentorian  ciy,  some  venture  to  climb  up.     The  lands- 


Z8  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

knec'hs  resist  in  vain.  They  become  wearied  out  and  are 
driven  into  the  river.  Of  800,  only  50  are  taken  alive. 
Meanwhile  the  Confederates  march  through  the  gate.  The 
Venetian  horsemen  pursue  the  fugitives,  but  can  only  overtake 
a  few.  Anon,  a  shout  resounds  through  the  city,  '  Julius,  the 
Swiss  are  conquerors. '  On  the  third  day,  the  garrison  of  the 
castle  surrenders.  Eight  battering-rams,  ten  culverins,  and 
ten  pieces  of  smaller  artillery  are  among  the  trophies.  Several 
had  previously  belonged  to  the  Venetians.  And  now  at  sight 
of  them  they  embrace  and  wet  them  with  tears  and  kiss  the 
escutcheon  of  St.  Mark.  So  much  had  the  disgraceful  loss 
pained  them.  The  remaining  towns  send  embassies  and  give 
in  their  adherence  to  the  Cardinal  and  the  Confederates.  Even 
Genoa  is  conquered  by  the  Spaniards,  and  Asti  acknowledges, 
begging  for  peace  with  tied  hands,  the  power  of  the  Holy  League. 
All  Italy,  the  seacoasts  of  Liguria,  and  the  Lombards  are  made 
free  by  the  Confederates.  '  We  owe  to  them, '  they  confess, 
'what  liberated  Greece  once  owed  to  Titus  Quinctius. '  The 
sound  of  the  trumpet  re-echoes  through  cities,  towns,  and  vil- 
lages ;  and  bells  ring.  Scholars,  clergy  and  preachers  proclaim 
from  the  pulpit;  'Ye  are  God's  people.  Ye  have  humbled  the 
enemies  of  the  Bride  of  the  Crucified. '  The  army,  tarrying 
some  days  in  Pavia,  suppresses  a  rebellion,  which  I  pass  over, 
because  the  matter  was  brought  to  a  happy  issue.  Then  mes- 
sengers hasten  to  all  parts,  in  order  to  bring  about  a  settlement 
of  the  affairs  of  Milan.  The  Confederate  Diet  is  assembled  in 
Baden,  and  the  following  embassies  arrive  there :  legates  from 
his  Holiness,  Pope  Julius  II,  from  the  Emperor,  from  the 
Cardinal  of  St.  Potentiana  (Schinner),  legates  by  proxy  of  the 
King  of  Spain,  from  the  King  of  France  ( these  half  by  stealth  ), 
from  the  Duke  of  Savoy,  from  the  Duke  of  Lorraine,  from  the 
Venetians,  from  the  Milanese;  all  bent  on  furthering  their  own 
wishes  and  aims.     Here  the  foresight  and  craftiness  of  men 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  29 

must  be  studied,  liow  they  try  to  bring  eacli  other  into  difficulty, 
in  order  to  prosecute  their  own  advantage  more  securely  amid 
the  confusion;  and  how  they  pretend  to  desire  one  thing,  in 
order  to  gain  the  contrary.  The  Emperor  in  particular  ties 
the  knot.  He  had  resolved  in  secret  to  restore  Maximilian,  son 
of  the  banished  Duke,  Ludovico  Sforza,  to  the  princely  seat. 
To  the  astonishment  of  all,  he  comes  out  with  the  assertion  that 
Lombardy,  as  a  fief  of  the  empire,  durst  receive  its  ruler  from 
no  one  but  th-e  head  of  the  empire.  This  gave  little  satisfac- 
tion to  the  Confederates.  "The  Emperor, ''  say  they,  "had 
promised  to  assist  us  with  cavalry;  but  he  went  no  further 
than  fair  words.  We,  the  Pope,  and  the  Venetians  have 
borne  the  burden  of  the  war.  And  now,  he,  who  did  nothing, 
comes  to  carry  off  the  prize. "  Yet  it  does  not  break  out  into 
an  open  quarrel.  Another  embassy  arrives  from  the  Holy 
Father,  Julius,  and  the  cardinals.  It  brings  to  the  Confeder- 
ates the  title  of  honor,  "Liberators  of  the  Church."  Most 
welcome  is  this  title  to  them,  and  most  welcome  what  is  added, 
"They  may  ask  what  they  please,  the  most  sacred  will  be  granted 
to  them. "  The  greater  part,  yea,  all  ask  for  the  privilege  of 
bearing  the  image  of  the  Crucified  on  their  banner;  the  men  of 
Grlarus  wish  the  risen  Savior.  In  the  end  the  resolution  is 
passed  to  bring  back  Maximilian,  the  son  of  Louis,  to  the  throne 
of  his  father.  I  would  have  written  to  you  more  fully,  my 
dear  Vadianus,  for  this  is  not  the  hundreth  part,  had  not  a 
pressure  of  business  prevented  me.  Judge  of  this  hasty  letter 
with  indulgence.  It  has  been  the  work  of  not  more  than  three 
hours.  '^ 

This,  the  earliest  historical  production  of  Zwingli,  that  has 
come  down  to  us,  is  translated  as  literally  as  possible,  in  order 
to  show  the  opinion  then  entertained  by  him,  of  political  and 
ecclesiastical  relations,  his  strong  youthful  spirit,  which  de- 
lighted in  the  chances  of  war,  and  his  study  of  the  military  art 


80  LIFE   OF   ZWrNGLI. 

and  history  of  tlie  warlike  Romans.  The  latter  is  seen  in  the 
occasional,  mostly  well  chosen,  technical  terms,  the  insertion  of 
short  speeches,  and  the  concise,  graphic  mode  of  representation. 
The  defective  knowledge  of  geography  displayed  need  not  be 
wondered  at,  since  maps,  those  indispensable  helps,  were  wholly 
wanting  in  that  age.  In  his  eyes  the  Romish  church  is  sur- 
rounded with  the  highest  glory,  and  its  sacred  head,  the  Pope, 
worthy  of  reverence  almost  divine.  He  regards  the  expedition 
to  Pavia  as  lawful,  exults  with  national  pride  in  the  laurels 
won,  and  even  the  sight  of  disorders  among  the  haughty  con- 
querors appears  to  make  only  a  transient  impression  upon  him. 
But  with  keen  glance  he  discovers  the  moving  spring  of  the 
diplomatic  transactions,  the  elements  of  discord,. and  the  quarter, 
from  which  the  most  destructive  inroads  on  tb^  life  of  the 
republic  were  to  be  feared. 

For  two  years  it  had  become  plain  to  him,  with  what  danger 
this  impure  game  of  false  statesmanship,  this  system  of  bribes, 
frauds,  flatteries,  and  intimidations  threatened  the  Confederacy, 
exposed  to  it  on  all  sides.  Two  poems,  written  about  the  year 
1510  or  1511,  "The  Labyi'inth"  and  "A  poetic  Fable  con- 
cerning an  Ox  and  several  Beasts,"  are  to  be  received  partly 
as  pictures  of  the  time,  and  partly  as  lessons  of  warning.  Vig- 
orous, rich  in  thought,  original  in  conception,  but  somewhat 
rude  in  language,  they  exhibit  a  row  of  well-drawn  single 
figures,  without  light  and  shade,  rather  than  a  group  disposed 
by  art,  and  owe  more  to  the  exercise  of  the  understanding  than  to 
the  impulses  of  the  imagination.  They  deserve  to  be  handed 
down  to  posterity  only  as  the  productions  of  an  author,  who  has 
done  greater  things.  The  second  winds  up  in  the  following 
nervous  style : 

*'  Where  Bribery  can  show  its  face, 

There  Freedom  has  no  dwelling  place. 

And  such  a  blessing  Freedom  is, 

That  boldly  Sparta,  as  v-e  -wis, 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  ol 

Unto  Hydarines  gave  reply : 

<  Freedom  must  stand  by  Bravery 

Sheltered  and  guarded  evermore.' 

Amid  the  bloody  ranks  of  "war, 

Amid  the  fearful  dance  of  death, 

Let  gleaming  swords  drawn  from  the  sheath, 

And  sharp -edged  spears  and  axes  be 

Thy  guardians,  golden  liberty. 

But,  where  a  brutish  heart  is  met 

And  by  a  tempting  bribe  beset, 

There  noble  Freedom,  glorious  boon ! 

And  name  and  blood  of  friends  too  soon 

Are  cheaply  prized  and  rudely  torn 

The  oaths  in  the  holy  covenant  sworn." 

In  Italy,  tlie  houorable  closing  act  of  the  year  1512  now 
took  place.  At  the  gates  of  Milan,  in  presence  of  the  imperial, 
papal  and  Spanish  deputies,  the  burgomaster  Schmied  of  Zurich 
handed  over  to  the  young  duke  Maximilian  Sforza  the  keys  of 
his  conquered  capital,  and  the  bailiff  Schwarzmauer  of  Zug 
received  him  with  a  Latin  oration.  It  were  well,  if  the  inter- 
vention of  the  Confederates  in  Italian  affidrs  had  ended  here, 
and  a  strong  national  resolve,  to  keep  what  they  had  won,  and 
leave  what  is  foreign  to  the  care  of  foreigners,  had  gained  the 
ascendency.  But  already  baits  were  again  thrown  out  by  the 
Pope,  the  Emperor  and  France,  and  were  soon  followed  by 
scenes,  more  stormy,  more  disgraceful,  more  tragic,  out  of  which 
the  battles  of  Novara  and  Marignano  rise  in  bloody  trappings. 
For  several  years  the  eyes  of  Zwingli  had  been  fully  opened 
to  the  destructive  influence,  which  foreign  mercenary  service 
exerted  on  a  free  state.  Whether  he  accompanied  the  banner 
of  Glarus  twice,  or  only  once  more  into  Italy  cannot  now  be 
accurately  determined.  Bullinger  alone  states  that  he  was 
present  at  Novara,  confounding  probably  this  expedition  with 
one  of  an  earlier  date.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  he  took 
part  in  the  camiiaign  of  1515,  for,  six  days  previous  to  the 


32  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

battle  of  Mariguano,  lie  preached  in  the  square  before  the  town- 
hall  in  Monza.  ''Had  we  followed  his  counsel/^  says  Werner 
Steiner,  who  at  the  side  of  his  father,  the  landamman  of  Zug, 
listened  to  the  sermon, — ''much  less  blood  would  have  been 
shed,  and  the  Confederates  saved  from  great  harm.  But  dis- 
sension reigned  in  their  ranks,  which  were  crippled  by  French 
gold  and  promises,  and  they,  who  did  remain  faithful,  lacked 
one  leader  around  whom  to  rally. 

The  terrific  battle  of  Marignano  had  ended  in  a  dreadful  de- 
feat. Voices  of  lamentation,  reproach,  and  repentance  met 
those,  who  found  their  way  back  to  their  native  land  and  re- 
sounded here  and  there  also  from  the  pulpit.  Zwingli,  who 
himself  had  been  an  eye-witness  of  the  whole  calamity,  believed 
it  his  duty,  as  teacher  in  the  chief-town  of  the  little  republic, 
not  to  keep  silent. 

Before  men  of  rank  and  influence,  who  even  in  Glarus, 
though  compelled  for  the  moment  to  remain  quiet,  soon  gave 
themselves  up  again,  at  first  cautiously  but  afterwards  without 
shame,  to  the  seductions  of  renewed  bribery,  sticking  to  that 
conqueror,  who  before  had  rewarded  them  so  gloriously,  and 
bejran  to  further  the  interests  of  France,  instead  of  those  of 
their  own  country,  he  unveiled,  without  fear  or  restraint,  the 
ruinous  consequences  of  this  scandalous  trade,  laid  bare  its 
secret  hiding  places  and  tricks,  and  encouraged  the  better  spirit 
of  the  people  to  a  wholesome  resistance.  But  notwithstanding, 
the  cunning  seducers  knew  how  to  restrain  themselves,  and  in 
spite  of  all,  they  gained  firmer  footing,  and  although  the  Per- 
petual Peace,  lately  concluded  with  France,  did  not  give  them 
all  they  sought  for,  they  still  received  by  it  a  more  secure 
position  for  further  intrigues. 

But  at  length  their  hatred  broke  out  into  open  flame  against 
the  bold,  troublesome  speaker — the  preacher,  who  dabbled  in 
politics — the  fanner's  son  of  a  remote  district,  who  had  the  pre- 


LIFE    or    ZAVINGILI.  33 

sumption  to  attack  the  great  ones  of  the  land,  the  old  patrician 
families,  and  who,  though  himself  not  pure,  nevertheless  cast 
blame  on  others.  Full  of  avarice,  envy  and  hypocrisy,  the 
proud,  the  fault-finders  and  the  spiritual  dwarfs  met  together. 
They  whispered,  fanned  their  rage,  shook  their  heads,  reviled, 
threatened;  in  a  short  time  they  had  no  rest,  till  he  wished 
himself  away;  and  hence,  at  a  later  period,  he  thus  wrote  to 
Vadianus,  <' Nothing  else  could  have  induced  me  to  change  my 
situation  but  the  intrignies  of  the  French.  I  am  now  at  Ein- 
sicdeln.  I  would  tell  you  what  injury  the  French  foction  has 
done  me,  if  I  did  not  think  that  you  knew  it  already.  I  had 
to  take  part  in  afi'airs,  and  have  suffered  and  learned  to  suffer 
much  evil.'^ 

We  will  now  examine  the  charges,  that  were  brought  against 
Zwingli,  keeping  steadily  in  view  the  position  as  to  science, 
character,  and  fitness  for  his  calling,  which  he  occupied,  when 
he  left  Glarus.  As  the  indispensable  fruits  of  a  republican 
form  of  government  we  look  for  freedom  to  be  good  and  true, 
decision  of  character,  and  the  unrestricted  development  of  eveiy 
nobler  feeling  and  of  every  kind  of  profound  knowledge. 
When  it  protects  and  fosters  such  tendencies,  and  makes  good  its 
title  to  an  honorable  place  among  other  forms.  But  when  it 
fails  so  to  do,  because  of  democratic,  or  aristocratic  degeneracy, 
it  then  writes  its  own  condemnation.  Zwingli  began  his  labors 
as  a  republican,  in  whom  the  citizen  was  not  lost  in  the  priest. 
And  this  we  must  always  bear  in  mind,  so  as  not  to  do  him  in- 
justice, when  we  see  him  working  as  resolutely  in  the  state  as 
in  the  church.  Whether  this  course  can  be  defended  in  our 
time  does  not  concern  us.  It  seemed  well  in  his  age,  and  that 
it  is  our  business  now  to  describe.  The  republican  feeling  of 
equality  gave  him,  moreover  courage  to  face  every  opponent  with 
boldness,  yet  always  with  argument.  He  honored  the  old  fami- 
lies, when  they  practised  the  old  virtues.     The  man  of  rank,  who 


34  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

sinned  against  his  country,  was  in  his  eyes  more  worthy  of  pun- 
ishment than  a  common  person.  Meanwhile  these  views  found 
too  much  sympathy  in  the  free  Canton  of  Glarus,  to  allow  his 
enemies  to  attack  him,  except  in  an  indirect  way.  They  harped, 
therefore,  so  much  the  more  on  the  third  charge,  that  he  even, 
the  fault-finder  himself,  was  not  innocent.  '^Why,'^  say  they, 
"does  he  rail  out  continually  against  French  intrigue?  Only 
because  he  has  sold  himself  to  the  Papal  interest.  Is  he  not 
in  close  league  with  Cardinal  Schinner  ?  Is  he  not  his  spy,  his 
minion,  commissioned  by  him  to  distribute  the  presents  of  the 
Pope  ?  Does  he  not  receive  letters,  testimonials  of  honor,  from 
the  Nuncio?  Yes,  he — even  he  who  calls  us  takers  of  bribes, 
draws  a  yearly  pension  from  the  Pope." 

And  certainly  it  was  so,  but  with  this  difference — an  honor- 
able intention  on  his  part,  and  a  base  one  on  theirs.  The  scien- 
tific and  practical  qualifications  of  Schinner  and  his  clear  insight 
into  the  relations  of  life  were  highly  esteemed  by  Zwingli,  who 
looked  on  him  as  a  strong  champion  in  the  contest  against 
French  corruption.  And  in  truth  this  son  of  a  poor  shepherd 
in  Valais  was  no  common  man.  By  talent  and  industry  he 
had  raised  himself  to  the  bishopric  of  that  Canton.  Defeated 
by  an  opposing  party  he  had  to  flee,  but  was  already  known  to 
the  Pope,  from  whom  he  received  a  Cardinal's  hat.  Of  course 
he  now  labored  to  advance  the  interests  of  Rome  and  the  Em- 
pire among  the  Confederates,  but  at  the  time  when  Zwingli 
became  acquainted  with  him,  not  by  such  disreputable  means, 
as  afterwards.  Any  separation  from  the  church  was  as  yet  far 
from  the  thoughts  of  the  Keformer,  although  he  already  desired 
the  correction  of  existing  abuses.  What  was  more  natural  for 
him  than  to  seek  to  win  over  to  his  assistance  those,  who  could 
exert  a  direct  influence  in  Pome,  the  Cardinal  and  the  Nuncio? 
And  indeed,  a  few  years  later.,  when  he  came  out  manfully 
against  the  politics  of  Eome,  he  yet  distinguished  between  the 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  85 

person  of  the  Cardinal  and  his  cause,  and  tnie  to  earlier  feel- 
ings of  friendship,  defended  the  former,  as  long  as  it  was  possi- 
ble. ^'They,'' — wrote  he  to  Myconius — ''who  blame  me  for 
yielding  too  much  to  the  Cardinal,  I  suspect  are  only  friends 
and  well-wishers  in  appearance,  and  censure  me  for  that  which, 
though  it  were  not  altogether  reasonable,  ought  to  be  allowed 
on  the  score  of  friendship.  Rather  would  I  err  in  thinking 
well  of  a  bad  man,  if  I  did  not  know  him  to  be  bad,  than  in 
thinking  ill  of  a  good  one."  The  fifty  florins,  which  he  drew 
yearly  on  the  order  of  the  Pope,  were  laid  out  only  in  books 
and  scientific  helps,  needed  for  the  better  exercise  of  his  calliog. 
This  pension  he  gave  up  of  his  own  accord  at  a  later  day. 

The  main  charge,  however,  was  directed  against  his  moral 
conduct.  Not  merely  gloomy  hypocrites,  habitual  fault-finders, 
who  took  offence  at  every  joke,  to  which  his  gay  humor  may 
have  prompted  him,  and  condemned  his  love  of  music  and 
society,  but  unprejudiced,  worthy  men  also  regretted  that  his 
attentions  to  the  women  were  not  always  kept  within  proper 
bounds.  It  were  idle  to  deny,  what  he  himself  openly  con- 
fessed, when  he  bewailed  the  errors  of  his  youth  and  strove  to 
do  them  away  by  redoubled  zeal  and  faithfulness  to  duty.  Some 
excuse  may  be  found  for  him  in  the  customs  of  his  age.  The 
failings  of  superiors  were  then  treated  with  indulgence,  and 
a  transo-ression  of  this  kind  received  but  a  mild  sentence  at  the 

o 

]  ar  of  public  opinion.  His  honorable  dismissal  from  Glarus, 
given  to  him  only  with  reluctance,  shows,  also,  that  in  spite  of 
occasional  short-comings,  his  character  was  held  in  general  es-  r 
teem.  Certainly  Catholic  writers,  since  then  and  even  in 
modern  times,  have  sought  to  cast  a  stain  on  his  later  work  by 
laying  undue  stress  on  this  weakness  of  the  lleformer's  youth.* 

*  Even  in  representations  designed  for  the  people  such  malevolent 
charges  are  found.  These  exaggerations  are  to  be  corrected  not  by 
concealment,  but  by  a  candid  statement  of  the  facts. 


3G  LIFE    OF    ZW'^IXGLI. 

The  simple  question  may  be  put  to  them,  ^  Are  not  Augustine 
and  Jerome  counted  among  your  most  distinguished  saints? 
And  yet  you  know,  or  ought  to  know,  what  they  have  con- 
fessed— things  that  Zwingli  had  never  to  renounce.' 

He  was  now  past  his  thirty-first  year,  and  in  the  full  vigor 
of  manhood.  His  national  sympathies,  the  extent  of  his 
knowledge,  his  courage  and  ability  were  well  known  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Glarus  and  to  many  also  beyond  the  limits  of  the 
little  Canton.  As  to  matters  of  faith  the  struggle  was  yet 
going  on  in  his  own  bosom.  Here,  on  the  one  hand,  stood  the 
Church,  to  whose  priesthood  he  had  been  consecrated,  with  her 
stiff,  unbending  dogmas,  and  her  stale,  lifeless  forms,  yet  es- 
teemed holy,  to  touch  which  was  regarded  as  an  unpardonable 
crime  in  the  individual ;  and  there,  on  the  other^  eternal  truth, 
superior  to  the  narrow  restrictions  of  human  power,  raised  above 
decretals  and  the  decisions  of  Councils,  drawing  to  herself  all 
noble  spirits  with  an  irresistible  charm,  of  all  objects  the  most 
worthy  of  pursuit  and  untiring  effort — and  besides  these  a 
third,  easily  overlooked  by  the  inexperienced  youth — by  the 
thinker  in  his  quiet  chamber,  but  not  by  the  practical  man, 
who  must  mingle  directly  with  the  people — the  necessity  of  a 
higher,  a  more  infallible  authority  than  his  own,  an  authority 
acceptable  to  all  good  men  and  acknowledged  by  all.  It  was 
well  for  him  that  he  knew  how  to  connect  this  with  the  results 
of  his  investigation.  Not  by  ignoring  the  understanding,  not 
by  a  cowardly  retreat,  where  others  ventured  freely  to  inquire, 
not  by  an  assent,  that  feared  to  ask  for  proof,  lest  one  should 
cry  out,  "Wo  to  the  heretic  !" — No  I  but  by  boldl}^  examining 
for  himself  and  using  his  reason,  he  only  arrived  at  the  more 
settled  conviction  of  the  truth  of  the  Holy  Scripture  and 
of  the  divine  power  of  the  faith  built  thereon.  ''Take  good, 
strong  wine,"  wrote  he  to  the  nuns  in  Oedenbach,  at  a  later 
period,  *'it  tastes  good  to  the  healthy,  makes  him   glad  of 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  3? 

heart,  strengthens  him,  warms  his  blood.  But  he,  who  lies 
sick  of  a  distemper,  or  fever,  and  cannot  taste  it,  much  less 
drink  it,  wonders  how  those  who  are  healthy  can  drink  it. 
The  fault  is  not  in  the  wine,  but  in  the  disease.  So  the  Divine 
Word  is  altogether  right  in  itself,  and  revealed  for  the  good  of 
men.  But  he,  who  cannot  bear  it,  nor  understand  it,  and  will 
not  receive  it,  is  sick.  Thus  let  them  be  answered,  who  wickedly 
say,  God  would  not  have  his  Word  understood,''^  (we  must  sub- 
ject reason  to  faith)  "as  if  God  wished  to  expose  us  to  danger." 

In  order  to  attain  completely  that  firm  ground,  where  settled 
conviction  is  the  result  of  the  union  of  faith  and  knowledge, 
he  could  scarcely  have  done  a  wiser  thing,  than  to  withdraw 
into  the  more  quiet  retreat,  which  was  opened  for  him  in  tho 
neighboring  Einsiedeln. 

Far  and  wide,  throughout  the  Confederacy,  and  the  surround- 
ing countries,  was  spread  the  name  and  glory  of  this  monastery, 
which,  like  St.  Gall  and  Muri,  was  subject  to  the  rule  of  Bene- 
dict. It  dates  its  origin  as  far  back  as  the  ninth  century,  and 
was  built  on  that  spot,  occupied  in  the  beginning  by  the  her- 
mit's cell  of  Meinhard,  a  German  count.  A  legend  of  a  voice, 
that  fell  from  heaven,  when  in  the  following  century  the  Bishop 
of  Constance  was  dedicating  a  new  chapel  there,  and  of  a  song 
of  angels  repeatedly  and  distinctly  heard,  gave  rise  to  the 
yearly  festival  of  the  "Consecration  of  the  Angels,''  which, 
when  it  happened  on  a  Sunday,  as  it  did  every  seventh  year, 
was  celebrated  with  increased  splendor.  The  story  of  Mein- 
hard's  death  and  the  discovery  of  his  murderers  by  means  of 
ravens,  who  followed  them,  survived  amonir  the  traditions  of 
the  people,  and  the  miracle  being  accredited  by  Pope  Leo  YIII, 
and  the  power  of  granting  plenary  indulgences  allowed  to  the 
monastery,  vast  crowds  of  pilgrims  were  attracted  thither.  ]>y 
their  offerings  and  the  donations  of  the  great  it  btx-ame  wealthy. 
The  Abbos  enjoyed  the  rank  of  a  Prince,  and  the  monks,  a;>  a 

4 


88  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

body,  were  descended  from  noble  families.  They  were  a  proud, 
initable  race,  and  could  talk  a^  much  almost  about  the  history 
of  their  quarrels  as  of  their  pious  exercises.  Conrad  of  Hoh- 
enrechberg,  who,  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
stood  at  their  head,  troubled  himself  little  about  incense  and 
choral  singing,  and  thought  it  a  wicked  thing  in  his  rela- 
tions to  have  forced  him  to  take  the  cowl.  He  took  a  knightly 
pleasure  in  the  chase,  and  his  heart  leapt  at  the  sight  of  a  drawn 
sword.  To  cunning  and  hypocrisy  his  nature  was  averse. 
Whoever  was  open,  simple,  and  sincerely  pious  found  a  friend 
in  him.  For  learned  men  he  had  a  great  esteem,  but  from 
lack  of  elementary  knowledge,  was  not  able  to  follow  their  in- 
vestigations. This  he  modestly  confessed.  The  reading  of  the 
mass  he  avoided  as  often  as  it  was  possible,  and  was  free  to  say, 
"  If  Christ  be  in  the  bread,  then  indeed  I  know  not  how  highly 
you  prize  yourselves;  but  I,  poor  monk,  am  not  worthy  to  look  on 
him  once,  and  hence  decline  to  oifer  him.  Is  he  not  there  ? — wo 
is  me !  if  I  offer  bread,  instead  of  God,  and  suffer  the  people  to 
adore  it. ''  When  disputes  ran  too  high,  he  sometimes  broke 
them  off  with  the  words,  "Why  so  much  talk?  Now  and  at 
my  last  hour,  I  say  with  David — Have  mercy,  0  God,  upon  me, 
according  to  thy  loving-kindness.  Enter  not  into  judgment 
with  thy  servant.  More  I  do  not  wish  to  know.  He  was  a 
diamond,  unpolished,  it  is  tnie,  and  carelessly  set,  but  always 
powerful  enough  to  prevent  any  interference  in  the  government 
of  his  foundation. 

At  his  side,  Theobald  of  Geroldseck,  filled  the  influential 
post  of  Administrator.  Zwingli  himself  writes  of  him,  "His 
share  of  knowledge  is  quite  moderate,  but  he  knows  the  value 
of  learning,  and  particularly  seeks  intercourse  with  those,  who 
are  possessed  of  it.  '^  By  the  aid  of  such  persons  he  desired  to 
increase  the  prosperity  of  the  monastery,  for  the  advantage  and 
maintenance  of  whose  privileges,  he  was  clothed  with  power. 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  39 

He  was  glad  therefore  to  learn  that  Zwingli  was  able  to  accept 
a  call,  aud  in  fact  an  agreement  was  entered  into  by  tlie  attor- 
neys of  tlie  two  parties  on  the  14  April,  1516,  at  Pfaffikon,  on 
Lake  Zurich,  in  consequence  of  which  Zwingli  undertook  the 
office  of  preacher  and  pastor,  in  the  capacity  of  vicar  to  the 
people's  priest  at  Einsiedoln,  for  which  boarding  at  the  convent- 
table,  20  florins  at  the  quarter-fastings,  the  revenues  nri&ino- 
from  the  penny-offering  and  requiems,  and  his  own  share  of  the 
confession-fees  were  guaranteed  to  him,  and  the  first  complete 
benefice  at  the  disposal  of  the  Administrator  besides.  Never- 
theless, at  their  own  urgent  request,  he  still  remained  pastor  of 
his  congregation  in  Glarus,  and  discharged  his  duties  there  by 
the  help  of  a  vicar. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year,  trained  as  he  already  was 
in  the  school  of  the  world,  he  entered  into  the  quiet  shades  of 
the  cloister.  It  can  scarcely  be  expected  that  he  will  remain 
there  long.  First  of  all,  let  us  take  a  view  of  monastic  life  on 
its  most  favorable  side,  as  a  school  of  self-denial,  as  a  place  of 
refuge  for  more  profound  study,  as  a  field  for  the  exercise  of 
practical  charity.  In  all  these  respects  it  has  no  doubt  serv^ed 
valuable  ends.  And  who  will  deny  that,  in  times  when  the 
will  of  the  strong  would  endure  no  restraint,  when  bloody  re- 
venge was  thought  to  be  a  duty,  and  when  iron  bodies,  broken 
by  no  excess,  added  deeds  of  violence  to  deeds  of  violence  a 
milder  spirit  was  awakened  in  the  walls  of  the  cloister,  and 
that  pride  was  humbled  there,  and  self-will  subdued  ?— that  in 
the  God'speace^  which  protected  its  environs,  the  mechanic, 
as  well  as  the  peasant,  found  labor  and  encouragement  ?  And 
who  does  not  acknowledge  the  services  rendered  by  particular 
monasteries,  especially  those  of  the  Benedictines,  in  the  preser- 
vation and  multiplication  of  rare  manuscripts— the  works  of  the 
ancients,  that  had  survived  the  downfall  of  \hQ  Y\"estern  Em- 
pire and  the  irruption  of  barbarian  hordes  ?     And  even  in  later 


40  LIFE    or    ZWINGLI. 

times,  in  our  own  country,  wlio  will  not  freely  own  his  indebt- 
edness to  a  Kopp  in  Muri,  a  Van  der  Meer  in  Rheinau,  and 
the  monks  of  the  neighboring  St.  Blaise, — a  Herrgott,  Neugart, 
Eichhorn,  and  the  Abbot  Gerbert  himself,  for  a  knowledge  of  the 
diplomacy  and  history  of  the  Middle  x\ges?  Who  does  not 
honor  the  Augustines  of  Mt.  St.  Bernard,  the  Gray  Sisters  and 
the  excellent  schools  of  particular  monasteries  ? 

But  then,  on  the  other  side,  who  will  not  admit  that  indo- 
lence, false  views  of  life,  narrow-mindedness,  hypocrisy,  and 
secret  and  impure  practices  found  a  home  in  a  multitude  of 
these  establishments?  In  Zwingli's  days,  these  dark  features 
were  most  prominent  and,  we  may  even  say,  altogether  prevailed. 
To  prove  this,  not  only  Protestant,  but  enough  of  Catholic  wit- 
nesses also  are  at  hand.  It  was  well  for  a  man  of  his  spirit  and 
aspirations  to  spend  a  few  years  in  the  quiet  cells  of  the 
cloister  for  the  completion  of  his  theological  studies,  especially 
since  he  was  exempt  from  the  duty  of  wasting  time  in  empty 
ceremonial  rites.  But  after  this  end  was  attained,  it  was  easy 
to  foresee  that  he  would  again  wish  himself  beyond  the  naiTow 
walls. 

To  this  the  peculiar  character  of  the  monastery  of  Einsiedeln, 
as  a  far-famed  place  of  pilgrimage,  contributed.  In  general 
there  is  little  to  admire  in  the  disposition  of  any  one,  who  does 
not  find  his  soul  elevated  in  places  hallowed  by  departed  great- 
ness. A  noble  feeling  lay  at  the  bottom  of  the  expeditions  to 
the  Holy  Sepulchre  during  the  jNIiddle  Ages,  although  they 
partook  of  all  the  rudeness  of  the  time  that  produced  them; 
and  even  yet,  how  many  spots  are  there  in  the  land  of  Palestine, 
that  awaken,  in  the  bosom  of  the  traveler,  meditations,  in  which 
earnestness  and  sorrow  mingle.  On  fields  of  battle,  in  haunts, 
where  ruled  the  leaders  and  the  teachers  of  mankind,  memory 
works  with  double  power,  and  even  around  graves  known  only 
to  perishing  tradition,  there  lingers  for  some  an  imperishable 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  41 

charm.     No  censure  therefore  on  pilgiimages  that  spring  from 
such  deep  impulses ! 

But  when  the  hand  of  man  ventures  to  write  down  in  such  a 
place  :  ''Here  is  plenary  absolution  from  guilt  and  punishment/' 
when  the  mortal  will  forestall  the  eternal  judge,  and  by  the 
fancy  of  expiation  obtained  through  such  a  pilgrimage,  the 
frivolty  of  the  sinner  is  directly  enhanced  and  the  perpetration 
of  grosser  crimes  encouraged,  when  money  rings  in  the  sanctu- 
ary, in  whose  courts  a  market  is  opened  for  relics  and  conse- 
crated amulets — who  can  be  angry,  if  a  feeling  of  indignation 
flashes  through  the  mind  of  the  clear-sighted  thinker,  as  well 
as  through  the  believing  heart  of  the  truly  pious? 

But  Zwingli  was  now  compelled  to  witness  frequent  scenes 
of  this  kind.  And  in  what  troubled  shapes,  did  not  the  events 
of  the  day,  the  delusion  of  the  crowd,  and  the  avarice  of  those 
who  made  again  of  them,  array  themselves,  when  in  the  stillness 
of  the  evening  or  the  night,  the  Gospel  opened  to  him  its  fountains 
of  light,  warmth,  and  living  sacrifice.  No  doubt  this  conviction 
of  the  unworthiness  of  this  trade,  carried  on  with  lost  men, 
was  confirmed,  and  the  impulse  to  come  out  at  once  and  main- 
tain stout  battle  against  all  these  powers  of  darkness,  more  and 
more  strengthened.  Though  somewhat  before,  yet  now  more 
than  ever  the  feeling,  that  such  a  conflict  must  come,  paved 
his  way;  the  eyes  of  thousands  were  seeking  some,  who  would 
undertake  it,  and  were  turned  with  desire  to  every  one,  gifted 
with  a  resolute  spirit;  and  many  friendly  voices  told  him,  that 
on  his  efforts  the  hopes  of  the  father-land  chiefly  rested. 
''This  is  he" — said  John  Oilchslin  in  Stein  to  his  friend  Fa- 
bricius — "of  whom  I  cannot  say  enough, — he,  who  towers  above 
all  other  Swiss, — he,  who  has  spread  around  him  here  a  better 
civilization. '^  "He" — the  German  Nesenus  wrote  to  him — 
"who  has  humbled  our  monks,  those  spiritual  tyrants,  has  done 
more  for  the  true  doctrine  of  Christ,  than  he  who  has  beaten  the 


42  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

ferocious  Turks.  Go  on,  my  Zwingli,  in  the  work  begun  for 
the  blessing  of  your  nation.'^  ''You  show  us" — is  contained 
in  a  letter  of  Rhenanus  from  Basel — "the  true  doctrine  of 
Christ,  sketched  intuitively,  as  it  were,  on  a  tablet;  you  inform 
us,  tl^t  Christ  was  sent  into  the  world  for  this  purpose — to 
communicate  to  us  the  will  of  his  Father ;  that  he  commands 
us  to  despise  earth  with  its  riches,  its  honors,  its  power,  its 
pleasures  and  every  thing  of  this  kind,  and  seek  after  the 
heavenly  father-land;  that  he  teaches  us  peace,  unity  and  all 
the  lovely  charities  of  life  (nothing  else  is  Christianity),  as  of 
old,  Plato,  who  is  truly  worthy  of  being  counted  a  great  prophet, 
dreamed  of  them  in  his  republic;  that  he  would  lift  us  above 
a  state  of  abject  dependence  on  country,  parents,  kindred, 
health,  and  all  the  blessings  of  earth,  and  convince  us  that 
poverty  and  the  other  miseries  of  life  are  in  no  wise  evil.  These 
doctrines  Christ  has  confirmed  by  his  life,  more  glorious  than 
that  of  any  man.  Would  that  Helvetia  had  many,  who  could 
so  exhibit  Him  to  us !  Such  alone  have  power  to  improve  our 
national  character.  And  our  people  are  by  no  means  incapable 
of  improvement. " 

The  relation  in  which  Zwingli  stood  to  G-eroldseck  gave  him 
encouragement  to  take  a  bolder  step.  Whatever  he  needed  in 
the  way  of  scientific  help  Geroldseck  permitted  him  to  buy  for 
the  monastery  and  was  glad  to  add  thus  to  its  treasures. 
Zwingli  was  always  grateful  for  his  protection  and  support,  and 
at  a  later  period,  when  he  had  left  Einsiedeln,  gave  utterance 
to  the  following  expression,  "You  have  never  looked  back, 
after  you  laid  your  hand  to  the  plough.  You  are  indeed  the 
friend  of  all  scholars,  but  me  you  have  loved  like  a  father,  hav- 
ing not  only  admitted  me  to  your  friendship,  but  to  the  most 
intimate  confidence  of  your  heart.  Go  on,  as  you  have  begun; 
stand  firmly  at  your  post.  God  will  in  the  end  lead  you  to  the 
goal.     No  one  can  gain  the  crown,  who  does  not  fight  bravely 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  43 

for  it. "  Most  willingly  did  he  respond  to  the  order  of  the  un- 
prejudiced Administrator,  to  go,  with  his  friends,  Zink,  (Echs- 
lin,  and  Schmied,  to  the  convent  under  the  supervision  of  Ein- 
siedeln,  there  to  relieve  the  nuns  from  the  duty  of  singing 
matins,  to  recommend  to  them  the  reading  of  the  German 
Bible,  and  to  grant  permission  to  any,  who  might  wish  it,  to 
leave  the  convent  and  marry,* 

But  the  most  powerful  weapon  of  his  spirit  was  the  living 
word.  Proceeding  cautiously,  step  by  step,  he  as  yet  only 
attacked  abuses  in  Einsiedeln ;  nevertheless  his  pulpit  discourses 
made  a  deep  impression,  and  already  the  number  of  pilgrims 
began  to  diminish,  yea,  many  brought  back  again  the  presents, 
which  they  had  carried  away.  Reports  are  still  extant  of  the 
sermons  preached  at  the  festival  of  the  Consecration  of  the 
Angels,  in  1517,  and  those  of  Whitsuntide,  1518. f  The  first 
must  have  been  bold,  and  according  to  the  testimony  of  Hedion, 
who  was  present,  the  second  were  "beautiful,  thorough,  solemn, 
comprehensive,  penetrating,  evangelical,  in  the  power  of  their 
language  reminding  one  of  the  oldest  church-fathers. "  A  part 
of  the  monks  were  scandalized,  but  the  Abbot  and  Geroldseck 
encouraged  and  protected  the  orator. 

The  attention  of  Borne  was  drawn  to  these  things;  but  it  did 
not  at  all  abandon  the  hope  of  winning  him  back  again.  A  literal 
and  faitlifid  translation  of  the  letter,  sent  to  him  from  Zurich, 
on  the  14  August  1518,  by  Antonio  Pucei,  nuntio  of  the  Apos- 
tolic See,  is  here  added : 

*  This  could  scarcely  have  taken  place,  as  may  be  supposed,  during 
his  ministry  at  Einsiedeln. 

f  He  seems  to  have  made  his  first  open  attack  on  the  whole  system 
of  pilgrimages  in  the  year  1522,  when  at  the  invitation  of  Geroldseck, 
he  preached  once  more  at  Einsiedeln,  since,  in  this  year,  the  14  Sep- 
tember fell  on  a  Sunday,  the  time  of  the  greater  festival  of  the  Conse- 
cration of  the  Angels.  The  goveniment  of  Schwyz,  ■which  had  hith- 
erto favored  it,  now  first  opened  ita  eyes. 


44  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

*'  Glorious  by  virtues  and  merits,  commended  as  well  by  ex- 
perience as  by  the  testimony  of  your  lionorable  fame,  you  have 
found  such  favor  in  the  eyes  of  our  Lord,  the  Pope  and  the 
Apostolic  See,  that  we,  full  of  paternal  kindness,  keeping  in 
view  your  person  adorned  with  scientific  culture,  graciously 
purpose,  according  to  the  authority  granted  as  by  our  aforesaid 
Lord,  the  Pope,  to  confer  on  you  a  title  of  special  dignity. 
But  hereby  you  perceive  in  truth,  whither  our  kind  disposition 
toward  you  would  tend,  when  we  npvr  create  you — who  are  a 
master  of  arts,  whom,  we,  out  of  regard  to  merits  already  al- 
luded to,  would  promote  and  adorn  with  the  title  and  privileges 
of  a  special  post  of  honor, — ^you,  whom  we,  if  you  have  fallen  in 
anyway  under  any  ban,  suspension,  interdict,  or  other  ecclesias- 
tical sentence,  or  under  any  censure  or  penalty  of  any  court,  or 
of  individual  men,  be  its  origin  what  it  may,  partaking  in  the 
operations  of  our  favor,  and  turning  your  prayer  toward  us  in 
relation  to  the  matter,  we  would  now  absolve  and  have  known 
as  absolved — you,  we  now,  in  the  name  of  our  holy  Lord,  the 
Pope  and  the  Apostolic  See,  in  accordance  with  these  presents, 
create  an  acoljjte-chaplam,  by  the  apostolical  authority,  granted 
us  by  the  most  holy  Father  in  Christ,  our  Lord,  the  Lord  Leo  X, 
Pope  by  the  decree  of  God,  and  exercised  by  us,  and  graciously 
enroll  you  in  the  number  and  society  of  the  other  chosen  aco- 
lyte-chaplains of  our  Lord,  the  Pope,  and  the  Romish  See.  At 
the  same  time  we  grant  you  the  possession  and  enjoyment  of 
all  the  privileges,  prerogatives,  honors,  exceptions,  favors, 
liberties,  immunities  and  indulgences,  singly  and  collectively, 
which  belong  to  the  other  acolyte-chaplains  of  our  Lord,  the 
Pope  and  the  Apostolic  See,  or  which  they  in  any  way  here- 
after shall  be  allowed  to  possess  and  enjoy,  to  be  used  by  you 
freely  and  in  a  lawful  manner,  unrestricted  by  the  apostolic 
constitutions  and  commands,  or  any  other  kind  of  impediment 
whatsoever.     Then  will  you  by  aspiring  after  virtue  advance 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 


45 


from  good  to  better,  and  become  worthy  of  a  still  liigber  place 
in  the  presence  of  our  Lord,  the  Pope  and  ourselves,  and  he 
himself,  our  Lord,  the  Pope,  and  we  will  thereby  be  moved  to 
bestow  on  you  more  extensive  favors  and  honors.  The  present 
document  is  dispatched  to  bear  witness,  and  we  have  allowed 
it  to  be  ratified  by  our  seal  appended  thereto. " 

'^An  official  style,"  the  scientific  reader,  who  looks  at  this 
letter  may  exclaim;  but  the  people,  in  whose  ranks  Zwingli 
ranged  himself,  understood  and  needed  another  kind   of  lan- 
guage.    That  which  the  Church  granted  to  her  pliant  acolyte- 
chaplains— freedom  from  excommunication,  the  dwellers  in  the 
Alps  had  sometimes  ventured  to  bestow  upon  themselves  on 
their  own  authority  in  moments  of  power.     The   complicated 
sentences  and  the  promises  contained  in  them,  in  case  of  fidel- 
ity and  submission,  made,  therefore,  little  impression  upon  the 
Reformer.     How  independent  he  was,  in  this  respect,  even  at 
Einsiedeln,  appears  from  his  letter,  of  1525,  to  Valentine  Com- 
par,  former  state-secretary  in  Uri.     "  Observe, "  says  he,  "  dear 
Valentine,  what  I  will  yet  publicly  make  known  to  the  people, 
now  living,  that  I,  both  before  and  since  the  schism  arose,  have 
discoursed  and  treated  with  distinguished    cardinals,   bishops 
and  prelates  concerning  errors  in  doctrine,  and  warned  them  to 
begin  the  correction  of  abuses,  or  else  they  would  be  involved 
in  greater  trouble.     Eight  years  ago  at  Einsiedeln  and  then  at 
Zurich  I  often  proved  to  the  Lord  Cardinal  of  Sion,  that  the 
whole  Papacy  rested  on  a  rotten  foundation,  and  this  always  by 
appealing  to  the  Holy  Scriptures.     The  noble  Sir  Diebold  von 
Geroldseck,  Mastir  Francis  Zink  and  Doctor  Michael  Sander, 
all  three  yet  living  are  my  witnesses;  and   the  above-named 
Cardinal  has  frequently  expressed  himself  to  me  in  this  way, 
'If  God  restores  me  again  to  favor  (for  he  was  at  that  time  in 
disgrace  with  the  Pope),  I  would  then  willingly  see  the  pride 
and  falsehood  of  the  Eoman  Bishop  exposed  and  corrected.' 


40  LIFE   OF    ZWINOLI. 

And  then,  lie  has  not  seldom  conversed  with  me  about  doctrine 
and  the  Holy  Scripture,  and  every  time  would  acknowledge  the 
falsehood  and  his  displeasure  at  it.  But  how  he  behaved  after- 
wards, need  not  be  told  here.'*' 

When,  therefore,  the  Bishop  of  Constance  himself,  just  at 
this  time,  in  a  pastoral  letter  to  the  clergy  of  his  diocese,  ut- 
tered, in  the  strongest  terms,  complaints  of  their  thoroughly 
corrupt  condition,  and  deplored,  that  "many  of  them,  without 
regard  to  shame  and  the  fear  of  God,  kept  lewd  women  in  their 
houses,  and  would  neither  put  them  away  nor  do  better,  and 
that  others  were  addicted  to  gambling  and  oftener  to  be  met 
with  in  taverns  than  in  their  own  rooms,  wrangled  in  the  streets, 
scolded,  giving  rise  to  uproar  as  well  as  blasphemy  against  the 
Savior,  his  blessed  mother,  and  all  the  s.iints  of  God,  wore 
weapons  and  clothes  altogether  unsuited  to  their  condition,  en- 
tered into  unlawful  agraements,  crept  into  nunneries  and  other- 
wise led  abandoned  lives  at  variance  with  the  priestly  character," 
and  acknowledged  the  urgent  necessity  of  a  remedy,  was  it  a 
seditious  movement,  or  not  rather  a  noble  effort  to  help  on  a 
good  cause,  when  Zwingli  thanked  his  chief  pastor  for  this,  but 
at  the  same  time  begged  him  to  act  as  well  as  speak  ? 

It  is  easy  to  imagine  how  such  a  zealous  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  his  calling  should  more  and  more  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  the  public  authorities.  Wintheilhur  was  anxious  to  see 
him  in  the  place  of  its  deceased  pastor.  He  had  to  decline, 
because  the  citizens  of  Glarus  were  not  willing  to  release  him 
from  his  former  engagement.  In  Zurich  even,  wither  he  had 
come  on  a  visit,  the  number  of  his  admilters  continually  in- 
creased. The  burgomaster  Roist  and  his  brcthren-in-arms  at 
Marignano  were  acquainted  with  him  since  the  Italian  cam- 
paign. To  the  senator,  Jacob  Grebel,  he  was  introduced  by  his 
son  Conrad,  at  that  time  one  of  his  warmest  admirers.  The 
canons  Utinger,  Erasmus,  Schmicd  and  Engelhart  knew  and 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  47 

honored  liis  scientific  attainments,  and  even  the  hostile  disposi- 
tion, which,  then  already,  some  of  the  most  resolute  defenders 
of  every  kind  of  wickedness  cherished  toward  him,  might  well 
have  proved  a  recommendation  to  all  well-disposed  people. 
Thus  the  way  was  prepared  for  a  translation  to  the  scene  of  his 
future  labors,  but  before  this,  Einsiedeln  was  yet  to  see  him 
coming  out  boldly  against  one  of  the  cardinal  sins  of  the  Papal 
Court. 

Samson,  the  auctioneer  of  writs  of  indulgence,  came  to 
Switzerland,  as  Tetzel  to  Saxony.  The  shameless  trade,  carried 
on  by  both,  in  the  pretended  remission  of  sins,  is  well  known. 
We  will  not  revive  these  scandalous  scenes,  confidently  believ- 
ing, that  their  repetition  in  our  age  would  be  impossible.  Even 
Zwingli  paused  a  moment,  before  he  ventured  to  attack  openly 
the  corrupter  of  the  people,  who  was  backed,  as  he  asserted,  by 
a  commission  from  the  Pope.  It  was  the  bishop  of  his  country, 
who  strengthened  him  for  the  undertaking.  "  Hugo,  Bishop 
of  Constance  " — says  he  in  the  letter  to  Compar  already  quoted 
from — "has  informed  me  by  his  Vicar  Johansen  Faber,  since 
the  Franciscan  monk  Samson  would  sell  indulgences  amongst 
us,  and  since  he,  the  bishop  had  learned  that  I  preached 
against  it,  and  confirmed  me  therein,  he  was  willing  to  stand 
by  me  in  all  fidelity.  How  could  I  act  otherwise  ?  Had  I  not 
to  obey  a  bishop  of  Constance,  whose  vicar  wrote  to  me, — even 
if  I  had  not  intended  to  do  the  same  thing  before— to  make 
war  on  the  ensnaring  system  of  indulgences  ? " 

He  uttered  warnings  from  the  pulpit  in  Einsiedeln  and  the 
natural  result  was,  the  monk  found  so  little  encouragement  in 
the  neighboring  Schwyz,  that  he  the  more  quickly  passed  on  to 
richer  and  more  willing  hearers  in  Bern. 

But  now,  with  this  last  act,  the  ministerial  labors  of  the  Re- 
former in  Einsiedeln  must  be  brought  to  a  close.  Erhard  Batt- 
man,  people's  priest  at  Zurich,  was  elected  a  member  of  the 


48  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

monastery  of  that  place  and  resigned  his  post  as  preacher.  The 
choice  of  a  succe.>sor  lay  with  the  canons.  A  majority  of  the 
most  influential  of  them,  together  with  several  officers  of  state 
urgently  desired  that  Zwingli  should  be  chosen.  Oswald  My- 
conius,  properly  Cleisshausler,  who  is  since  known  as  the  biogra- 
pher and  friend  of  Zwingli,  became  an  agent  in  the  matter. 
He  was  born  at  Luzern,  four  years  later  than  Zwingli,  and  had 
received  a  careful  education,  particularly  in  the  Latin  language 
at  Rothweil  under  an  eminent  teacher,  and  afterwards  in  the 
High  School  at  Basel.  He  early  became  acquainted  with  the 
accomplished  Glareanus  and  thanked  him  especially  for  his  per- 
ception of  every  beautiful  and  noble  tendency  in  life,  and  for 
an  introduction  to  Zwingli,  who  once  came  from  Glarus  to  Basel 
on  a  visit.  It  was  the  learned  Netherlander  Erasmus  chiefly, 
around  whom,  all  who  strove  after  culture  and  science  with 
genuine  zeal,  united  themselves  in  Basel.  Even  Art  found  in 
this  genial  man  recognition  and  encouragement.  The  celebrated 
painter  Holbein  was  his  friend,  and  had  furnished  spirited 
illustrations  for  a  book,  in  which  Erasmus  had  hit  off  the  vari- 
ous follies  of  the  time  with  wit  and  humor.  This  memorial 
is  preserved  to  this  day  in  the  library  of  the  city.  In  the 
society  of  such  distinguished  men  Myconius  found  his  sphere 
of  knowledge  enlarged,  his  judgment  corrected  and  his  will 
strengthened.  Three  beautiful  traits  appear  prominent  in  his 
character — Earnestness,  Thoroughness,  (by  which,  not  content 
till  ho  had  rightly  apprehended  the  smallest  details,  he  rose 
higher,  step  by  step,  but  ever  the  more  securely,  for  thus  Plat- 
ter, afterwards  his  scholar,'  has  portrayed  him  with  grateful 
affection),  and  then,  that  which  only  belongs  to  pure  andeavor, 
a  Modesty,  that  is  not  concerned  about  its  own  praises  but  only 
about  the  propagation  of  truth,  and  springing  from  this  and 
connected  with  it,  the  most  cordial  esteem  and  the  most  devoted 
friendship,  where  he  discovered  true   merit  in  others,  and  an 


LIFE   OP   Z  WING  LI.  49 

acknowledgment  without  envy,  where  lie  found  in  them  a 
greater  talent  than  his  own.  For  this  reason  he  became  so 
intimate  with  Zwingli  and  remained  so  true  to  him,  through 
all  changes,  to  the  end  of  his  life.  About  the  same  time  that 
his  friend  went  to  Einsiedeln,  he  himself  received  a  call  as 
teacher  in  the  foundation  school  at  Zurich.  Here  he  soon 
gained  influence  and  consideration,  and  it  was  owing  to  his 
efforts  that  the  present  invitation  was  extended  to  Zwingli,  who 
answered  him  thus,  ''See  that  you  tell  me  of  the  course  of 
duties,  the  persons,  who  are  at  the  head  of  affairs,  the  salary 
and  whatever  else  you  can  find  out.  On  Wednesday  I  will  dine 
in  Zurich  and  then  we  can  talk  over  the  matter.  I  will  take 
no  step  without  joux  advice.  Congratulate,  according  to  usage, 
in  my  name  the  newly  elected  Provost  Frei,  as  one  who  is  a 
friend  to  learning." 

Myconius  confirmed  him  in  his  resolution  to  offer  himself  as 
a  candidate  for  the  post ;  and,  some  days  after,  Zwingli  laid 
open  his  heart  to  his  friend.  "  A  falle  " — writes  he — ''  reaches 
my  ears;  that  Lorenzo  Fable,  so  the  Swabian  from  Graubuen- 
den  is  called,  has  preached  once  before  your  congregation,  and 
is  not  wholly  unacceptable  to  the  prudent  people  of  Zurich ;  yet 
a  letter  from  Michael,  the  private  secretary  of  the  Cardinal, 
assures  me  of  the  contrary.  How,  said  I  to  myself,  is  it  thus 
true,  that  the  prophet  has  the  least  honor  in  his  own  country? 
Can  a  Swabian  even  be  preferred  to  a  Switzer,  who,  on  his  own 
territory,  would  not  be  regarded  as  inferior  ?  Yes,  indeed ! 
I  see  well  how  he  strives  to  gain  the  applause  of  the  multitude 
by  flattery.  I  know  too  that  the  whole  endeavor  of  the  vain 
man  is  after  that — this  Jack  Smoke,  as  I,  with  our  Glareanus, 
will  call  fellows  of  his  kidney.  Keep  this  scornful  effusion  of 
mine  to  yourself,  dear  friend,  and  continue  to  work  for  me,  for 
I  will  freely  confess,  the  place  appears  now  doubly  desirable, 
since  I  know,  that  he  hankers  after  it.     Yes,  what  I  would 


50  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

otlierwise  have  borne  patiently,  would  now  seem  a  real  disgrace. 
Indeed  I  must  go  against  the  warning  of  Paul,  who  accuses 
them,  that  covet,  of  worldly-mindedness.  Already  I  had  pro- 
posed to  myself,  to  expound  the  whole  Gospel  of  Matthew,  an 
undertaking  hitherto  unheard  of  in  Germany.  Let  them  choose 
him  and  they  will  soon  see  what  he  will  bring  out  of  his  goose- 
stall.  Take  this  hasty  letter  in  good  part.  It  is  more  warm 
than  prudent.'' 

Myconius  answered,  that  his  friendly  letter  was  welcome,  and 
the  more  so,  because  he  had  given  in  it  a  true  picture  of  him- 
self. About  Fable  he  set  his  mind  at  ease.  Unfavorable  re- 
ports of  him  had  since  arrived;  and  there  was  no  one  in  Zurich, 
who  did  not  laud  Zwingli's  attainments  to  the  skies.  But  his 
life  offered  another  difi&culty.  A  minority  at  least  found  fault 
with  it.  A  part  of  them  saw  in  his  fondness  for  music  a ' 
worldly  disposition ;  others  said  that  he  had  not  confined  him- 
self in  Glarus  to  good  society;  and  at  a  very  recent  date  a  rumor 
began  to  spread  abroad,  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  too  familiar 
intercourse  with  a  daughter  of  a  citizen  of  that  place.  A 
further  examination  of  his  fitness  for  the  office  was  committed 
to  the  Provost  Frei  and  two  members  of  the  canonicate,  Utinger 
and  Hofmann.  The  latter,  an  aged,  severe  man,  formerly  a 
zealous  preacher  against  the  mischief  of  foreign  pensions,  was 
particularly  anxious  to  know  what  might  be  in  the  affair. 
"Write  to  me  about  it" — concludes  he — "not,  because  you 
need  first  prove  to  me  the  falsehood  of  the  charge,  but  because 
I  wish  to  contradict  those  who  are  ill-disposed." 

A  letter  from  Zwingli  to  the  canon  Utinger  immediately 
followed,  in  which  he  honorably  confessed  the  crime,  yet  af- 
firmed that  he  had  not  been  the  seducer,  but  the  seduced. 
With  shame  and  anguish  he  made  this  confession,  and  vowed 
that,  for  the  future,  by  daily  and  nightly  searchings  and  labors, 
he  vrould  keep  himself  free  from  stains  of  this  sort.      "Never- 


LIFE    OF    ZVriNGLT.  51 

tlieless'' — contiuued  he — '^if  such  charges  are  spread  abroad 
by  my  enemies,  your  people  must  have  a  poor  opinion  of  me, 
and  if  I  should  be  elected,  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  must 
suffer  damage.  It  is  advisable,  therefore,  for  you  to  consider 
well  beforehand,  what  the  public  sentiment  may  be,  and  to 
listen  rather  to  God  than  men.  Speak  frankly  about  me,  with 
whomsoever  you  may  find  it  necessary.  Show  my  scrawl," 
(for  that  it  is  and  no  vindication)  "to  Myconius,  and  to  any 
one  else  you  please.  I  lay  my  fate  in  your  hands.  Whatever 
the  result  may  be,  withdraw  not  your  love;  mine  for  you  always 
remains.'^ 

That,  after  all  this,  Myconius  and  Utinger  pushed  on  matters 
with  redoubled  zeal;  that  Hofmann  came  out  on  his  side;  that 
of  the  twenty-four  canons  seventeen  cast  their  votes  for  him; 
that  in  Zurich,  and  among  all  the  sons  of  Zurich  in  foreign 
lands,  the  liveliest  joy  prevailed,  shows  us  that  the  favorable 
opinion,  held  of  him,  did  not  suffer  much  by  his  confession. 
It  was  the  same  case  in  the  scene  of  his  former  labors.  The 
inhabitants  of  Glarus,  to  whom  he  had  gone,  towards  the  close 
of  December,  in  order  to  resign  his  post,  which  he  had  retained 
till  this  time,  respected  him  so  highly,  that,  on  the  strength  of 
his  recommendation,  they  passed  themselves  over  to  the  care  of 
Valentine  Tschudi.  At  Einsiedeln,  Geroldseck  acted  in  the 
same  way.  He  chose  Leo  Juda^,  the  friend  of  Zwingli,  as  his 
successor  in  that  place.  The  guardian  power  of  the  monastery, 
the  Council  at  Schwyz,  wrote  to  him,  "Although  we  in  part 
regret  that  you  must  leave  us  at  Einsiedeln,  yet,  on  the  other 
hand,  we  rejoice  with  you  in  everything  that  contributes  to  your 
profit  and  honor.''  Through  Glareanus  the  tidings  came  from 
Paris,  "All  the  Swiss  youth,  who  are  here,  were  delighted; 
they  exulted,  particularly  the  sons  of  Zurich.  What  concerns 
me  is,  that  I  have  less  reason  to  wish  you  happiness  than  to 
pity  my  friends  in  Glarus."     Thus  then,  he   who  was  taking 


52  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

leave,  stands  in  his  true  image  before  us,  exhibited  in  bis 
weakness  as  well  as  in  his  prepondering  virtue;  no  saint — only 
a  man;  but  a  man  full  of  courage  and  faith.  Well!  let  us 
accompany  him  to  the  enlarged  sphere  of  that  ministry  of  his, 
whose  results  will  endure  for  ages. 


CHAPTER    SECOND 


ZWINOLI  IN  ZURICH.      BEQINNING  OP  THE  REFORMATION.      POLITICAL  AND 
ECCLESIASTICAL  AFFAIRS  UP  TO  THE  FIRST  RELIGIOUS    CONFERENCE. 


UST  as  Zwingli  began  his  reforma- 
tion in  Switzerland,  Martin  Luther 
^  made  his  appearance  in  the  German 
Empire.  Many  in  those  times  tried 
to  disparage  the  work  of  Zwingli  by 
^^^  asserting  that  he  only  took  the 
^^^=^  words  out  of  Luther's  mouth. — 
Learned  men  are  since  divided,  some  attributing  the 
first  step  to  the  one  and  some  to  the  other.  As  far 
as  religion  is  concerned  the  question  is  of  little  con- 
sequence. The  corruption  of  the  church  was  the 
same  in  Switzerland  as  in  Germany.  Both  were  men 
of  independent  character.  Each  was  developed  in 
his  spiritual  peculiarities,  according  to  his  own  nature 
and  the  custom  of  his  people.  But  since  Zwingli 
himself  has  set  forth  his  relation  to  Luther,  it  may  be  worth 
our  while  to  listen  to  his  own  language :  "The  great  and  power- 
ful of  this  world  have  begun  to  proscribe  and  render  odious  the 
doctrine  of  Christ  under  the  name  of  Luther;  so  that  they,  by 
whom  it  is  preached,  are  called  Lutherans.  Thus  it  happened 
also  to  me.  But  before  any  one  in  our  country  ever  heard  the 
name  of  Luther,  I  had  commenced  to  preach  the  Gospel  in  the 
year  1516,  since  I  never  went  into  the  pulpiir  without  placing 
5*  63 


54  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

before  me  the  words,  read  in  the  Gospel  of  the  mass  for  that 
day,  in  order  to  explain  them  from  the  Holy  Scripture  alone. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year,  when  I  came  to  Zurich,  no  one 
yet  knew  anything  of  Luther,  except  that  a  book  was  published 
by  him  on  indulgences,  but  it  taught  me  little,  for  I  had  already 
been  instnicted  concerning  the  fraud  of  indulgences  by  a  dis- 
putation, which  my  beloved  teacher,  Thomas  Wittenbach  of 
Biel,  held  at  Basel,  although  during  my  absence.  Who  then 
shall  give  me  the  nick-name  of  Lutheran  ?  And  when  Luther's 
little  book  on  the  Paternoster  appeared,  and  I  had  shortly  be- 
fore explained  the  same  Paternoster  in  Matthew,  I  well  knew, 
that  many  pious  people  suspected  me  of  making  that  book  and 
adding  Luther's  name  to  it.  Who  then  could  nick-name  me  a 
Lutheran  ?  I  point  out  this  with  all  the  circumstances,  so  that 
every  one  may  learn,  what  the  base  intentions  of  several  noble- 
men are,  when  they  venture  to  tack  the  name  of  Luther  to  all, 
who  preach  the  Gospel,  so  as  thereby  to  make  the  doctrine 
odious  to  men,  by  giving  you  the  name  of  a  man,  which  is 
truly  nothing  else  than  a  gross  blasphemy,  and  a  sure  sign  of  a 
cormpt,  godless  conscience.  Luther  is,  as  it  strikes  me,  an  ex- 
cellent soldier  of  God,  who  with  great  earnestness  has  looked 
through  the  Scripture  as  no  one  has  ever  done  in  a  thousand 
years  on  earth,  and  with  manly,  undaunted  spirit,  has  attacked 
therewith  the  Pope  of  Rome,  as  no  one  has  ever  done  like  him, 
as  long  as  the  Papacy  has  endured,  yet  without  receiving  abuse 
from  others.  But  of  whom  is  such  an  act  ?  of  God,  or  Luther? 
Ask  Luther  himself  and,  I  well  know,  he  will  say,  '  Of  God. ' 
Why  then  do  you  ascribe  the  doctrine  of  other  men  to  Luther, 
when  he  himself  ascribes  it  to  God?  Does  Luther  preach 
Christ?  Then  he  does  just  what  I  do;  although,  God  be 
thanked,  by  him  a  countless  world  more  will  be  led  to  God, 
than  by  me  and  others,  whose  measure  God  makes  greater  or 
smaller,  as  ho  will.     Nevertheless  I  will  bear  no  name  but  that 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  55 

of  my  captain,  Christ,  whose  soldier  I  am,  who  will  give  me 
office  and  pay  as  much  as  seems  to  him  good.  Now,  I  hope, 
every  body  will  understand,  why  I  do  not  wish  to  be  nick- 
named Lutheran;  although  I  esteem  Luther  as  highly  as  any 
man  living. ''  He  proved  by  his  actions  that  he  spoke  the 
truth,  for  when  the  Papal  Bull  of  excommunication  against 
Luther  was  already  sent  out,  though  not  yet  made  known,  he 
strove  as  far  as  it  was  in  his  power,  first  by  representations  to 
the  acting  attorney  of  the  Legate  in  Zurich,  and  afterwards,  by 
an  anonymous  publication,  to  hinder  it  as  much  as  possible. 
So  Zwingli  stood  then,  acknowledging  the  high  merit  of  the 
Saxon  Reformer,  supporting  him,  at  his  side ;  but  now  let  us 
turn  back  to  his  national  career. 

The  destructive  influence  of  foreign  mercenary  service  and 
pensions  on  the  character  of  the  people  was  no  less  visible  in 
Zurich  than  in  other  States  of  the  Confederacy,  and  the  num- 
ber of  families,  who   were  able  to  resist  the   charms  of  gold, 
displayed  freely  on  all  sides,  was  small,  especially  in  the  city. 
Indeed,  the  councils  and  people  had,  in  the  year  1513,  executed 
a  solemn  oath  against  "  Wages  and  Bribes,"  as  it  was  called, 
and  two  years  later,  at  the  inimor  of  a  high-handed  breach  of 
it,  the  people  of  the  lakes  rose  up  and  by  threats  produced  the 
flight  of  some  of  the  bribed,  and  the  dismissal  and  punishment 
of  others ;  but  the  oath  was  taken  on  one  day,  uproar  followed 
on  the  second,  and  then  new  transgressions  on  the  third.     When 
Zwingli   came  to  Zurich,  a  suspicion,  that  had  more  or  less 
foundation,  rested  on  some  of  the  first  men  in  the  government. 
This   was  increased  by  the   notorious  intrigues  of  the  many 
foreign  embassies,  who  were  present,  and  their  followers  also 
not  seldom  helped  on  the  demoralization  of  the  city.     In  Bern 
the  state  of  morals  was  better  than  in  Zurich.     "  The  Bernese" 
— wrote  Sebastian  Wagner  to  Zwingli — ''appear  to  me  not  so 
morally  corrupt  as  our  people  of  Zurich.     Their  dress  and  their 


50  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

manners  have  a  certain  air  of  ancient  Swiss  simplicity/'  Bul- 
liuger  also  says,  "  Before  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  Zurich 
was  almost  like  Corinth  in  Greece.  Much  lewdness  and  fri- 
volity prevailed,  because  diets  were  held  there  and  many 
strangers  flocked  in,  where  the  embassies  of  lords  and  princes 
were  staying.''  George  Mangolt  of  Constance  tells  us  that  he 
heard  Zwingli  himself  say  from  the  pulpit  in  the  year  1520, 
that  on  a  former  visit  to  Zurich  ^^he  found  so  much  wickedness 
there,  that  he  silently  resolved  never  to  become  a  pastor  in 
that  city  and  prayed  God  to  prevent  it,''  and  some  years  later, 
when  reform  began  to  gain  ground,  one  of  his  friends,  Anthony 
Dublet,  wrote  to  him  from  Leyden,  "I  cannot  tell  you,  what 
joy  possessed  me,  what  comfort  stole  into  my  heart,  when  I 
heard,  that  the  first  state  of  the  Confederacy,  your  men  of  Zu- 
rich, till  now,  it  seemed,  born  only  for  war  and  murder,  more 
beasts  than  men,  have  laid  aside  their  godless  avarice  joined  to 
a  godless  cruelty,  and  in  good  faith  pledged  themselves  to  the 
simple  Gospel  and  Christ,  the  Lord,  the  true  Mediator.  Truly, 
God  is  mighty,  who  can  from  such  stones  raise  up  children  to 
Abraham ! "  The  number  of  executions,  one  of  which  occurred 
nearly  eveiy  month,  was  not  able  to  keep  down  outbreaks  of  the 
lawless  spirit,  which  ruled  the  nation,  and  the  sentences  of  the 
judges  on  the  bench  not  seldom  bore  marks  of  the  rudeness  of 
the  age.  In  the  second  year  of  Zwingli's  ministry,  a  witch 
was  burnt,  because  she  confessed  on  the  rack,  that  she  had  sold 
herself  to  the  Devil,  had  enjoyed  connection  with  him,  had 
ridden  on  a  stick  to  Schaff  hausen,  and  to  an  assembly  of  wicked 
spirits  on  the  Heuberg,  lamed  cattle,  and  conjured  up  a  frost 
and  five  hail-storms.  New  saints  also  were  wantonly  manufac- 
tured. The  journeyman-tailors  proclaimed  St.  Goodman  as 
their  patron,  left  off  work,  and  went  dancing  about  to  the 
music  of  a  dnim.  The  authorities  were  compelled  to  inter- 
fere  with   sternness.      All   this    shows   the  difficulties,   that 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  57 

met  the  Reformer,  on  the  part  of  the  people,  to  whom  he  was 
sent. 

And  ai5  it  regards  the  government  and  the  clergy  his  path 
was  in  no  degree  smoother.  That  some  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished members  of  the  council  were  honestly  and  decidedly 
national  in  their  feelings  cannot  be  doubted.  There  is  no  evi- 
dence to  show,  that  the  burgomaster  Mark  Roist  ever  preferred 
his  private  advantage  before  the  public  weal,  and  his  son  Diet- 
helm  also,  who  sat  next  his  father  in  the  council,  was  an  acknowl- 
edged man  of  honor.  The  deputy  Rudolph  Thumeisen  had 
likewise  maintained  an  unspotted  reputation,  and  George  Ber- 
ger  and  Hans  Effiugcr,  even  in  Italy,  among  so  many  degraded 
characters,  proved  themselves  incorruptible.  Hans  Edlebach, 
the  treasurer  Werdmueller,  the  banneret  Schweizer,  and  of  the 
younger  men,  Ulric  Funk  and  Lavater,  landvogt  at  Kyburg,  en- 
joyed universal  esteem.  But  besides  these,  there  was  another 
party,  composed  of  men,  who  as  the  crowd  says,  meant  well, 
though  they  were  weak,  and  not  inaccessible  to  the  corinipting 
influences  of  the  time,  and  hence  undecided  in  moments  of  peril. 
The  second  burgomaster  Schmied,  his  successor,  the  deputy 
Walder,  and  the  senator  Jacob  Grebel  may  be  pointed  out  as 
belonging  to  this  class.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was  yet  a 
third  class,  who,  were  ready  to  desert  any  cause,  and  to  help  on 
and  take  part  in  any  bold,  disorderly  proceeding.  Accustomed 
to  splendor  and  good-living,  they  had  been  reduced  to  poverty 
by  idleness  and  prodigality,  and  hence  were  always  in  the 
market  for  the  highest  bidder.  And  yet  by  reason  of  their 
noble  descent,  and  their  extensive  connections  they  were  able 
to  wield  a  considerable  influence,  for  most  of  them  were  mem- 
bers of  the  aristocracy.  Among  these  appear  the  Goeldins,  the 
Stapfers,  the  Landenbergs,  some  of  the  branches  of  Zieglers 
and  the  Rahns,  and  bold  men,  like  Onofrion  Setzstab,  who  were 
prepared  for  any  undertaking.     Zwingli  could  foresee  in  them 


58  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

all,  his  deadly,  and  at  a  later  period  perhaps  his  powerful 
enemies. 

Among  the  clergy,  the  new  people's  priest  was  brought  into 
direct  intercourse  with  the  canons,  who  elected  and  had  control 
over  him.  Although  they  had  his  kind  wishes,  he  yet  resolved, 
to  act  freely  according  to  his  convictions,  supported  by  a  feel- 
ing of  spiritual  superiority.  He  could  scarcely  have  rejected 
good  counsels  from  the  trustee  Utinger,  and  the  canons  Eras- 
mus Schmied,  Walder,  Bachofen  and  some  others  perhaps,  who 
at  the  veiy  first  extended  to  him  the  hand  of  friendship.  His 
beginning  will  appear  more  difficult  when  we  consider,  that  they 
acted  by  authority,  and  whoever,  supported  by  it,  ventured  to 
come  out  into  more  decided  opposition  against  him,  could  be 
certain  of  a  strong  support.  That  he  therefore  had  to  look  for 
cold  respect,  but  no  hearty  co-operation  from  one  portion  of  the 
circle  of  his  ministerial  associates,  and  secret  dislike,  yea,  even 
burning  hatred  from  another,  might  be  inferred  from  the  nature 
of  the  human  passions  and  the  circumstances  of  the  case. 

In  this  way,  his  position  had  already  become  suspicious  to 
the  higher,  and  much  more  to  the  lower  clergy,  on  account  of 
their  general  dislike.  The  reputation,  which  had  preceded  him, 
made  the  race  of  monks  tremble,  for  by  their  degeneracy,  they 
had  fallen  into  deserved  contempt  with  the  mass  of  the  people. 
Still,  distinguished  patrons,  and  adherents  in  public  and  pri- 
vate remained  true  to  him.  Zwingli  could  not  at  least  expect 
skillful  opponents  from  this  quarter.  Their  gross  ignorance 
left  them  at  his  mercy.  But  just  in  the  very  consciousness  of 
his  superiority  lay  a  temptation,  so  much  the  stronger  to  rash 
and  premature  action,  and  by  this  the  Eeformer  was  threatened 
with  the  greatest  danger.  Thus  affairs  stood  in  Zurich,  when 
Zwingli  began  to  teach.  He  arrived  there  on  the  27  Decem- 
ber, 1518,  and  immediately  presented  himself  to  the  convent 
of  the  canons.     Here  he  was  made  acquainted  with  the  duties 


LIFE    OF    ZWINOLT.  59 

of  tis  office.  Of  the  fourteen  articles  of  direction,  the  two 
shortest  were  those  rekiting  to  the  pulpit.  Twice  in  a  year  he 
had  to  read  aloud  longer  passages  from  the  Gospels,  to  preach 
on  Sundays,  to  announce  the  festivals,  and  to  notify  the  chapter 
of  the  so-called  anniversaries,  or  to  see  that  it  was  done  by  one 
of  his  two  assistants.  The  other  articles  treated  of  his  presence 
in  the  choir,  obedience,  style  of  dress,  the  reading  of  the  mass, 
baptism,  simony  (the  selling  of  benefices  or  obtaining  them  by 
fraud  ),  but  especially  the  care  of  the  revenues  of  the  chapter. 
All  his  duties  were  detailed  therein  with  the  greatest  precision 
and  minuteness.  An  article  was  afterwards  added,  which  made 
it  the  duty  of  the  people's  priest  not  to  leave  the  city  during 
seasons  of  pestilence. 

At  this  meeting  Zwingli  declared  that  he  regarded  preaching 
as  his  chief  business.  First  of  all,  the  people  must  be  taught 
to  understand  the  Holy  Scriptures.  So  it  had  been  in  ancient 
times.  But  now  nothing  was  heard,  except  solitary  extracts, 
and  even  these  in  a  foreign  language.  He  did  not  pass  by  the 
remark,  that  the  church  thus  orders  it,  but  appealed  on  the 
contrary  to  its  oldest  statutes,  and  proved  clearly  the  modern 
origin  and  ruinous  consequences  of  the  change. 

What  he  had  told  the  canons,  he  made  known  to  the  con- 
gregation on  the  first  of  January,  1519,  and  on  Sunday  the 
second,  began  to  expound  the  Gospel  of  Matthew.  It  is  easy 
to  imagine,  that,  when  he  fii'st  came  out  in  this  unwonted  man- 
ner, a  large  number  of  hearers  would  be  collected  to-gether; 
but  to  retain  them,  demanded  an  inward  call,  combined  with  a 
vast  range  of  knowledge.  The  applause,  which  he  drew  forth, 
continually  increased,  for  he  knew  how  to  attract  both  the  high 
and  the  low.  His  sermons  were  life-pictures;  and  this  gave 
them  their  charm,  their  power,  their  practical  effect.  The 
doctrine  of  Christ,  designed  for  all  nations  and  all  ages,  is  so 
simple,  and  can  be  traced  back  to  such  a  few  principles,  tliat  by 


60  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

a  mere  repetition,  paraphrase,  or  exclusive  explanation  of  these 
only,  the  most  dexterous  orator,  obliged  to  appear  so  often,  must 
become  dull  and  cold ;  but  injBnitel j  rich,  and  ever  new,  is  life 
surveyed  in  the  light  of  this  same  doctrine.  The  appearance  oi 
Zwingli,  not  only  every  week,  but  almost  every  day,  was,  for 
this  reason,  always  welcome.  Now,  when  the  occasion  called 
for  it,  there  were  representations  of  the  fate  of  Jesuis  and  of 
the  apostles;  and  then  again,  narratives  or  pictures  from  Chris- 
tian or  Jewish,  and  sometimes  even  heathen  history,  events  of 
the  day,  and  praise  or  blame,  which,  without  fear  of  offence, 
he  wove  into  his  discourses.  *'Take  it  not  to  yourself,  0  pious 
man !  '^  he  was  accustomed  to  say.  Indeed  this  mode  of  preach- 
ing raised  an  excitement  nearly  like  the  press  in  our  times. 
Yet  one  difference  between  the  old  and  the  new  teachers  of  the 
people  is  not  to  be  overlooked.  The  former  employed  through- 
out the  rule  of  the  Gospel,  and  was  concerned  for  the  advance- 
ment of  religious  truth  and  not  mere  party  views. 

In  proportion,  meanwhile,  as  his  knowledge  of  the  people  of 
Zurich  and  their  circumstances  increased,  his  sermons  became 
more  direct  and  pointed.  If  any  one  found  fault  with  them, 
and  it  came  to  the  ears  of  the  preacher,  he  might  be  sure  of  an 
answer  at  the  first  opportunity.  He  did  not  hesitate  to  speak 
of  them  by  name,  and  sometimes  gave  free  play  to  his  wit. 
Whatever  was  done,  in  con  vent- walls,  bar-rooms,  and  even  in 
the  hall  of  the  council,  contrary  to  truth,  reason  and  sound 
morals,  was  exposed  without  mercy  from  the  pulpit.  Just  then, 
1519,  the  throne  of  the  German  Empire  became  vacant  by  the 
death  of  Maximilian  I.  Intrigues  in  regard  to  the  choice  of  a 
successor  kept  the  diet  assembled  in  Zurich,  in  constant  em- 
ployment. Envoys  were  repeatedly  sent  to  Italy  in  the  service 
of  the  Pope;  France  attempted  once  more  to  bring  about  a 
closer  alliance,  and  towards  the  north,  in  spite  of  all  the  disua- 
sion  of  the  allied  powers,  whole  troops  of  deserters  streamed  to 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  61 

the  banner  of  Duke  Ulric  of  Wirtemberg,  wbo,  driven  from  his 
own  capital,  was  engaged  in  war  against  the  Swabian  League. 
Amid  these  circumstances  Zwingli  took  occasion  to  speak  some- 
times a  word  from  the  pulpit  concerning  politics.  In  this,  the 
Gospel  gave  him  less  countenance,  than  the  example  of  those 
Jewish  prophets,  who  formerly  made  bold  to  bring  the  rule  of 
kings  under  their  examination,  warning,  or  censure.  But  the 
times  were  no  longer  the  same,  and  such  a  transgression  of  the 
bounds  marked  out  by  pinidence,  might  well  awaken  concern 
in  the  bosoms  of  individual  statesmen,  who  were  not  deserving 
of  reproach. 

And  yet  amid  all,  he  still  gained  firmer  footing  in  Zurich. 
Every  man  of  unbiased  feeling  was  obliged  to  confess,  that  he 
was  inspired  by  religion,  and  had  the  welfare  of  the  state  as 
well  as  the  church  truly  at  heart.  Moreover,  it  could  not  es- 
cape any  one,  familiar  with  history,  that  only  the  most  decided 
measures  can  eradicate  deep-seated  corruption.  The  universal 
abhorrence  of  the  traffic  of  indulgences  came  to  his  aid.  The 
miserable  Samson,  after  filling  his  pockets  at  Bern,  had 
ventured  to  approach  Zurich.  Both  the  spiritual  and  secular 
authorities  approved  of  the  attacks,  which  Zwingli  made  against 
him.  He  was  prevented  from  riding  into  the  city.  Even  the 
Diet,  to  which  he  appealed,  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  him, 
and  went  so  far  as  to  give  Felix  Grebel,  who  was  setting  out 
for  Rome,  a  commission  to  lay  complaints  of  him  before  the 
Pope.  Immediately  the  monk  received  evidence  of  Leo's  dis- 
pleasure. ^^The  thirteen  cantons  of  the  Confederacy" — was 
written  to  him — "have  complained  to  His  Holiness,  that,  in 
the  promulgation  of  indulgences,  you  have  fallen  into  errors, 
which  it  were  out  of  place  here  to  enumerate.  The  Holy 
Father  is  much  astonished  at  this,  and  has  given  orders,  to 
enjoin  upon  you  in  his  name,  to  be  subject  in  all  things  to  the 
will    of  the   aforesaid   lords  pf  the  Confederacy.     You  shall 

G 


62  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

remain  tliere,  for  tlie  execution  of  your  commission,  if  they 
demand  it,  but  in  no  way  oppose  tliem,  if  tjiey  desire  you  to 
return  to  Italy;  for  it  is  the  will  of  the  Holy  Father,  that  you 
be  entirely  obedient  to  these  lords,  his  well-beloved  sons,  in  all 
things  that  can  contribute  to  the  welfare  of  their  souls.  You 
will  also  show  this  letter  to  them. " 

There  was  great  rejoicing  over  this  conclusion  of  the  matter, 
especially  on  the  part  of  the  General-vicar  of  the  Bishop  of 
Constance,  Faber,  who  had  formerly  been  Zwingli's  fellow- 
student  in  Vienna,  and  had  since  then  kept  up  a  certain  inti- 
macy with  him.  Indeed  at  Zwingli's  first  bold  debut  the 
general-vicar  seemed  to  wish  it  still  closer.  ''Why'' — wrote 
he  to  him — "  do  you  make  so  careful  and  sparing  a  use  of  my 
friendship?  Why  do  you  seem  to  mistrust  me?  Do  not 
doubt !  Begun  under  favorable  auspices,  it  will  last  forever.  " 
Still  later  he  invited  him  to  his  house,  communicated  his  plans 
to  him,  asked  his  judgment  concerning  books,  and  proclaimed 
aloud  his  praise,  especially  where  he  knew  that  it  would  reach 
Zwingli's  ears.  But  the  Eeformcr  looked  deeper.  Modesty 
WJS  a  prominent  trait  in  his  character  from  youth  upwards.  In 
the  one  appeared  the  love  of  the  world,  the  struggle  to  elevate 
himself  by  any  means  in  his  power,  the  vain  fancy  that  he 
could  hood-wink  others  by  the  assumption  of  a  mask;  in  the 
other,  a  strong  love  for  truth.  Nevertheless,  Zwingli  wished  to 
avoid  a  breach  with  his  former  friend ;  and  now,  especially^ 
when  lie  and  the  bishop  seemed  not  unwilling  to  favor  further 
reforms.  In  reference  to  this  he  thus  expresses  himself  in  the 
letter  to  Valentine  Compar  already  quoted  from:  "I  have  sent 
humble  and  dutiful  letters  to  the  Bishop  of  Constance,  and 
pointed  out  to  him  publicly  and  privately  and  in  every  way, 
how  he  ought  to  apply  himaclf  to  spreading  abroad  t'le  light  of 
the  Gospel;  and  that  it  would  redound  to  the  honor  of  the 
whole  race  of  Landenberg,  if  he  were  the  first  bishop,   who 


LIFE    OF    Z  WING  LI.  63 

would  cause  tlie  Gospel  to  be  freely  preaclied;  but  I  do  not 
know  how  tlie  weather  has  changed.  They,  who  were  .'^o 
prompt  before,  have  given  me  no  answer,  either  by  mouth,  or 
pen,  except,  what  they  have  done  in  general.  But  this  was 
unlike  the  former,  because  (in  consequence  of  it)  the  vicar  let 
me  understand  orally  and  by  writing,  the  Bishop  would  not 
endure  too  much  urging  from  the  Pope. " 

Amid  such  signs  of  a  storm  gathering  on  all  sides,  the  plague 
broke  out  in  Zurich  towards  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1519. 
Spreading  in  almost  all  the  neighboring  countries,  it  reached 
Switzerland  from  the  east,  and  penetrated  into  the  secluded 
vallies  of  the  mountains.  Zwingli  received  the  news  of  its  near 
approach  in  a  bath  at  Pfeffers,  and,  mindful  of  his  duty  as  peo- 
ple's priest,  immediately  hurried  back  to  Zurich.  Seeing  the 
peculiar  danger,  he  sent  several  young  men,  who  were  living  in 
his  house,  particularly  his  young  brother  Andrew,  to  their 
homes ;  but  he  himself  unterriiied  began  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  his  office.  The  result,  that  was  foreseen,  followed.  He  also 
was  laid  upon  a  bed  of  sickness. 

Not  for  harmony  of  rhythm,  but  for  the  deep  inward  feeling, 
which  they  manifest,  the  verses  composed  by  him,  after  he  had 
become  convalescent,  in  two  diiferent  periods  of  sickness,  are 
truly  remarkable.  They  show  us  the  sources  of  his  faith  and 
activity,  and  a  character,  which  even  in  view  of  what  appeared 
to  be  his  last  hour,  remained  true  to  itself  An  admirer  of 
Zwingli- in  modern  times,  still  keeping  faithfully  to  the  thoughts, 
has  altered  the  language  to  that  of  our  century,  and  in  this 
form  they  may  also  be  admitted  here.''' 

'^  [Instead  of  putting  these  altered  versions  into  our  own  language, 
we  give  the  poems  as  found  in  the  English  translation  of  Merle  D'Au- 
bigne's  History  of  the  Reformation,  because  the  German  of  Zwingli  has 
there  been  followed,  and  their  original  form  and  spirit  better  pre- 
served.— Trans.] 


64  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

In  the  beginning  of  sickness: 

Lo!  at  my  door  Yet,  if  to  queneh 

Gaunt  Death  I  spy ;  My  sun  at  noon, 

Hear,  Lord  of  life,  Be  thy  behest, 

Thy  creature's  cry.  Thy  will  be  done  I 

The  arm  that  hung  In  faith  and  hope 

Upon  the  tree,  Earth  I  resign, 

Jesus,  uplift —  Secui-e  of  heaven— 

And  rescue  me.  For  I  am  thine ! 

When  the  disease  gained  strength. 

Fierce  grow  my  pains  :  In  Satan's  grasp. 

Help,  Lord,  in  haste !  On  HelFs  dark  brink, 

For  flesh  and  heart  My  spirit  reels, — 

Are  failing  fast.  Ah !  must  I  sink  ? 

Clouds  wrap  my  sight  No,  Jesus,  no  ! 

My  tongue  is  dumb,  Him  I  defy,. 

Lord  tarry  not,  While  here  beneath 

The  hour  is  come  !  Thy  cross  I  lie. 

But  his  vigorous  constitution  surmounted  the  disease.  Ahout 
the  end  of  autumn  signs  of  convalescence  began  to  appear,  and 
he  gave  vent  to  his  joy,  at  the  prospect  of  restoration  to  life 
and  activity,  in  the  following  stanzas : 

My  Father  God,  Though  now  delayed, 

Behold  me  whole !  My  hour  must  come, 

Again  on  earth  Involved,  perchance, 

A  living  soul !  In  deeper  gloom. 

Let  sin  no  more  It  matters  not 

INIy  heart  annoy,  Ptcjoicing  yet 

But  fill  it,  Lord,  I'll  bear  the  yoke 

With  holy  joy.  To  Heaven's  bright  gate. 

Thus  sickness  did  not  cause  him  to  waver  in  his  settled  con- 
victions, but  filled  him,  on  the  contrary,  with  new  courage. 
Yet  the  last  poem  shows  us  that  a  foreboding  of  a  darker  fate 
in  the  future  was  by  no  means  strange  to  him.     Indeed;  not 


LITE    OF    ZWINGLI.  65 

loug  after  liis  recovery,  lie  expressed  himself  still  more  clearly 
in  a  similar  strain  to  his  friend  Myconius.  After  a  glance  at 
the  dangers  which  sun'ounded  Luther,  he  continued  :  "  What- 
ever may  befall  me,  I,  already  marked  out  as  a  victim,  look  for 
eveiy  thing  evil  from  the  clergy  and  the  laity.  I  only  pray 
Christ  for  courage  to  bear  all  with  a  manly  heart,  and  that  he 
may  crush  or  strengthen  me,  his  laborer,  as  may  seem  good  to 
him,  and,  should  I  even  fall  under  excommunication,  I  will 
think  of  Hilary,  that  learned  and  holy  man,  who  was  banished 
from  Gaul  to  the  deserts  of  Africa,  and  of  Lucius,  who  was 
driven  from  the  Roman  See,  and  afterwards  brought  back  with 
honor.  I  will  not  liken  myself  to  such  men,  who  though 
greater  than  I,  still  endured  the  greatest  evils.  But  should 
one  glory  await  me ;  may  it  be,  to  suffer  shame  for  Christ ' 
Yet,  let  him,  whothinketh  he  standeth,  take  heed  lest  he  fall.'' 
That  he  could  thus  express  himself  to  his  best  fiiend  only  by 
letter  and  no  more  see  him  in  person  at  his  side,  belonged  to 
the  bitter  trials  of  his  life  at  this  time.  Myconius  had  just 
then  accepted  a  call  to  the  highest  professorship  in  his  native 
city  Luzern,  and'Zwingli  found  himself  deprived  of  half  his 
support,  "like  an  army"— he  said — "one  of  whose  wings  is 
cut  off  in  the  presence  of  the  enemy. "  This  man,  by  reason  of 
his  moderation,  had  great  influence  with  the  clergy  and  the 
laity,  and  often  became  a  useful  mediator  between  them  and 
the  impetuous  Zwingli.  There  was  no  one  now  to  persuade 
the  Reformer  to  use  milder  measures;  and  the  complaints  of 
the  canons,  summed  up  in  a  letter  to  his  superior,  the  Pro- 
vost Frei,  only  provoked  him  to  a  repulsive  answer.  These 
related  chiefly  to  the  imposition  of  tithes,  the  main  source 
of  revenue  to  the  church,  and  an  unjust  burden  in  the 
eyes  of  the  majority  of  the  nation.  The  people's  priest  was 
expressly  pledged  by  the  statutes,  to  take  care  of  the  conscien- 
tious disposition  of  the  tithe,  and  to  insist  upon  it  as  avreligious 


66  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

duty  in  his  discourses.  "Instead  of  whicti" — says  the  letter 
of  the  canons — ''  he  denies  the  divine  origin  of  the  tax,  and 
seems  to  regard  it  as  tyranny,  if  it  be  strictly  enforced.  Is  it 
any  wonder  that  the  people  stick  to  him  ?  He  makes  us  odious 
to  the  laity,  calls  the  monks  'theologians  of  the  cowl/  and 
whatever  he  hears  bad  of  them,  he  talks  about  it  in  the 
pulpit.'^  It  is  almost  certain,  that  the  Provost,  when 
Zwingli  had  conversed  somewhat  earnestly  with  him  concern- 
ing these  charges,  was  ashamed  of  the  memorial  of  his  subord- 
inates. At  least  he  cherished  no  hatred  toward  his  person. 
On  the  contrary,  some  months  later,  he  exerted  his  utmost  in- 
fluence to  induce  the  chapter  of  the  canons,  without  consulting 
a  higher  spiritual  court,  to  simplify  their  worship  and  alter 
the  breviary  of  the  cathedral,  "because  it  is  impossible  in 
this  age  to  keep  up  any  longer  the  multitude  of  holidays,  cere- 
monies and  ecclesiastical  customs,  which  have  been  accumula- 
ting for  centuries. "  In  the  same  manner  Zwingli  was  after- 
wards, upon  his  own  request,  admitted  into  the  number  of  the 
canons.* 

Thus  far  in  Zurich  the  external  condition  of  the  church 
remained  the  same.  The  agitation  was  confined  to  the  souls  of 
men.  In  the  mean  time  this  was  little  felt  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  canton.     Neither  the  Confederates,  nor  the  Bishop,  nor 

*  This  was  the  only  means,  as  a  letter,  sent  by  Francis  Zink  from 
Einsiedeln  to  the  government  of  Zurich,  clearly  shows,  of  keeping  him 
in  the  city  ;  for  it  was  impossible  any  longer  to  pay  the  two  assistants, 
whom  ho  was  bound  to  maintain,  out  of  his  own  salary,  without  the 
pension  of  the  Pope  ;  nevertheless,  in  order  to  gain  perfect  freedom  of 
speech,  instead  of  accepting  the  doubling  of  the  Romish  allowance  just 
then  promised,  he  declined  receiving  from  the  legate  what  had  hither- 
to been  paid.  Under  these  circumstances  his  friend  Henry  Engelhart 
camo  to  his  assistance,  since,  he  having  also  a  benefice  in  the  church 
of  Notro  Dame  (  Frauen-Muenster  ),  resigned  his  post  in  the  cathe- 
dral, iu  Zwingli's  favor. 


LIFE    or    ZWINGLI.  67 

the  Pope,  nor  his  legates  found  any  occasion  to  interfere;  and 
now  again  it  was  from  political  events,  that  the  fii*st  general 
movement  took  its  rise. 

The  Perpetual  Peace  was  concluded  by  Francis  I,  in  the 
hope  of  paving  the  way  for  a  closer  alliance  with  the  Confeder- 
ates. He  needed  and  sought  after  their  soldiers;  he  wished  to 
take  them  away  from  his  enemies.  He,  therefore,  sent  to  them 
some  of  his  men  of  business,  who  were  best  acquainted  with  our 
country  and  its  inhabitants;  lavished  gdd  in  abundance,  and 
held  in  his  employ  some  of  the  most  active  Swiss  as  recruiting 
officers.  Among  these,  Albert  von  Stein,  a  Bernese,  was  the 
boldest  and  most  indefatigable.  He  was  well  known  in  the 
canton  of  Zurich.  He  had  relations  and  connexions  there.  His 
appearance  always  gave  rise  to  an  excitement,  and  in  some  dis- 
tricts of  the  country  at  least,  the  youth  did  not  lend  an  unwill- 
ing ear  to  his  voice.  When  by  the  election  of  Charles  V.  to  the 
throne  of  the  German  Empire  in  the  year  1519,  the  French  King 
saw  his  hopes  vanish,  he  redoubled  his  efforts  to  secure  the  wished 
for  defensive  alliance,  and  a  favorable  hearing  first  of  all  in 
Bern  and  Luzern.  Most  other  places  joined  with  them.  Only 
Zurich,  Schwyz,  Basel,  and  Schaffhausen  stood  out  against  it. 
At  length,  in  April  1521,  the  three  latter  were  also  won  over. 
On  the  5th  of  May,  the  treaty  was  subscribed  in  Luzern  by 
twelve  states  and  all  the  places  subject  to  them,  and  at  the 
same  diet  the  resolution  was  passed,  to  make  a  last  general  en- 
deavor, to  prevent  Zurich  from  withdrawing  by  herself. 

It  is  mentioned  by  Bullinger  and  all  his  contemporaries  that 
Zwingli  spoke  out  decidedly  agarinst  this  treaty  from  the  pulpit 
and  whenever  he  found  opportunity;  and  they  seem  to  infer 
from  the  strength  and  clearness  of  papers  concerning  it  issued 
from  Zurich,  tliat  he  had  the  chief  hand  in  their  composition. 
But  the  Confederates  worked  against  him  with  just  as  much 
zeal.     Not  only  did  envoys  from  Bern,  Luzern,  Uri,  Unterwal- 


68  LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI. 

den,  Zug  and  Solothurn,  along  with  the  French  ambassador 
Lameth,  present,  in  the  name  of  all  the  others,  petitions,  ex- 
pressions of  regard,  and  even  hints  at  grievous  consequences  in 
case  of  a  refusal,  but  written  letters  came  also  from  the  i-ural  dis- 
tricts and  congregations,  demanding  a  subscription  of  the  treaty. 
Albert  von  Stein  and  others  like  him,  were  seen  traveling 
repeatedly  from  place  to  place  throughout  the  canton. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  government  resorted  to  a 
natural  expedient.  It  declared  that  it  must  first  hear  the  voice 
of  the  people,  and  then  the  great  council  would  decide. 

Members  of  the  council  were  sent  into  all  the  bailiwicks,  to 
lay  before  the  assembled  commons,  first  the  treaty  itself,  and 
then,  a  written  explanation  of  its  several  articles,  and  ask  their 
patient  examination  of  it,  and  also  a  communication  of  their 
views,  in  writing,  to  the  government.  With  the  league  and 
its  significance  to  the  Confederaxjy  the  more  circumstantial  his- 
tory of  the  country  begins.  On  the  contrary,  the  real  voice  of 
the  people  ought  to  be  plain  to  us  from  the  answers  of  the 
commons.  The  records  may  be  quoted  in  the  true-hearted  lan- 
guage of  the  time,  and  a  beginning  made  with  Winterthur. 

"■  On  notice  brought  by  our  worthy  lords,  the  knight  Felix 
Grebel,  Younker  Conrad  Engelhard  and  Master  Henry  Weg- 
mann,  who  as  ambassadors  of  our  gracious,  loving  lords,  the 
burgomaster,  and  the  Small  and  Great  Councils  of  the  city  of 
Zurich,  have  sufficiently  informed,  by  written  instructions,  my 
lords,  the  Schultheiss,  and  the  Small  and  Great  Councils  of  the 
city  of  Winterthur  concerning  the  alliance — it  is  true:  my 
lords,  the  Schultheiss,  and  the  Small  and  Great  Councils,  would 
have  thought  advice  from  them  unnecessary,  since  they  have 
already  given  it  to  our  lords,  the  burgomaster,  and  the  Council 
of  the  city  of  Zurich,  by  their  deputy  and  member.  But  since 
they  could  not  be  excused  and  found  themselves  included  with 
others  in  the  letters  of  instruction,  they  have  sat  upon  the  busi- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI,  69 

ness  and  framed  an  answer  to  be  given  to  the  twelve  cantons, 
in  the  hope  that  it  may  serve  to  further  peace  and  unity.  And 
the  humble,  earnest  answer  and  prayer  of  my  lords,  the  Sehult- 
heiss  and  the  Small  and  Great  Council,  is,  that  some  way  may 
be  d^ised,  so  to  arrange  matters,  that  our  lords,  the  burgo- 
master and  the  Council  of  the  city  of  Zurich,  may  be  and  re- 
main one  with  the  twelve  cantons  and  the  other  Confederates, 
with  the  further  offer,  that,  if  it  happen  so  or  not,  they  will 
none  the  less  act,  as  becomes  pious,  honest  people,  and  place 
their  lives  and  property  at  your  disposal." 

^'The  four  Wards,  together  with  Wipkingen,  Seebach, 
Schwamendingen,  and  Oerlikon,  also  Wiedikon  and  Wollis- 
hofen,  give  answer  to  the  paper  read  before  them  concerning  the 
French  alliance  :  first  of  all,  that  they  thank  my  lords  for  their 
distinguished  honor  and  friendship  in  laying  open  before  them 
their  cares  and  trials;  therefore,  be  it  their  general  will  and 
opinion,  and  urgent  desire  and  prayer,  that  my  lords  will  be  ver)'- 
slow  to  enter  into  union  and  alliances  with  the  French,  as  well 
as  other  foreign  princes  and  lords,  since  they  would  have  noth- 
ing at  all  to  do  with  the  French  aforesaid.  For  each  honest 
man  can  scarcely  raise  children  enough  to  send  to  the  French 
King.  Besides,  be  it  also  their  desire,  that  the  treaties  and 
what  they  grant,  be  maintained  among  the  Confederates  3  and 
thereto,  aa  pious,  true  people  and  subjects,  they  pledge  their 
lives  and  property  and  all  else,  that  God  has  given  them." 

"An  assembly  at  Hirslanden  and  Eiespach  have  with  one 
accord  resolved  on  the  cross,  that  they  fervently,  earnestly,  and 
with  the  highest  zeal,  thank  our  lords  of  Zurich  for  their  pious, 
friendly  notice,  and  for  telling  them  so  truly  the  misery,  troubles 
and  dangers  of  the  alliance  with  the  king,  brought  about 
and  subscribed  to  by  the  twelve  cantons,  and  therefore,  earn- 
estly beseech  our  lords  aforesaid  to  remain  firm  in  their  honest 
pui-pose  and  intention,  and  give  the  go-by  to  all  princes  and 


70  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

lords ;  then  will  tliey  also  pledge  to  them  their  souls,  honor, 
lives  and  property  without  any  reserve,  since  they  would  have 
nothing  at  all  to  do  with  this  alliance,  as  far  as  lies  in  their 
power. " 

^'  A  general  assembly  convened  at  Zollikon  have,  with  great 
det-ermination  and  unanimity,  given  answer,  that  they  are  well- 
pleased  with  the  notice  of  our  lords  and  their  opinion,  and  that 
their  reason  is  too  weak  to  praise  enough  the  pious,  honest  reso- 
lution of  our  lords;  therefore  they  pressingly  and  earnestly 
pray  our  dear  lords  aforesaid  to  hold  fast  to  their  good  resolu- 
tion and  not  let  themselves  be  moved  therefrom  by  anybody, 
and  not  enter  into  this  French  alliance ;  then  will  they  all  to- 
gether and  without  exception  pledge  their  souls,  honor,  lives  and 
property  to  our  lords  and  stand  by  them  till  death." 

^'A  general  assembly  at  Kuessnacht,  with  one  accord  make 
answer :  Your  community  has  been  sore  wondered  at  and  an- 
noyed by  the  other  confedei-ates,  who  have  brought  themselves 
and  their  posterity  into  a  danger,  which  will  last  for  a  long 
while,  and  may  result  in  great  damage  to  their  people  and  can- 
tons. Yet  as  for  all,  so  the  entire  assembly  with  one  accord, 
and  with  the  greatest  zeal,  thank  our  lords  for  the  true,  friendly 
commands,  brought  by  our  two  lords  Walter  Hans  Berger  and 
Thomas  Spruenglin  of  the  Small  and  Great  Council,  and  also  for 
the  pious,  honorable,  just  and  Christian  resolution,  to  suiier 
grievance  themselves  rather  than  mischief  should  befall  us  and 
our  posterity  in  the  course  of  time.  Therefore,  the  assembly 
offer  the  earnest  and  friendly  prayer  to  our  lords,  that  they  will 
stick  to  their  resolution  to  give  the  go-by  to  all  lords,  so  that 
they  who  belong  to  them  can  remain  unhampered,  and  every 
father  also  be  aided  by  his  sons,  if  he  has  need  to  use  them  for 
himself.  In  this,  the  entire  assembly  dares  to  pledge  to  our 
lords  their  lives  and  property  and  all  that  they  have,  wishing 
them  also  to  help  to  punish  their  own  sons,  when  they  will  not 


LIFE   or   ZWINGLI.  <1 

remain  true,  and  act  in  a  rebellious  manner.  Tlie  assembly  also 
desire  our  gracious  lords,  when  troublesome  persons  stray  into 
their  city  or  canton,  and  act  in  an  unbecoming  way,  striving  to 
seduce  the  young  men,  that  they  will  drive  them  off  by  authority, 
to  prevent  greater  disturbance,  which  might  arise  from  their 
overbearing  dispositions.  '^ 

Meila  replied  in  a  similar  strain;  and  M^enedorf  likewise.* 
"A  meeting  at  Stsefa  has  agreed  on  this:  Because,  for 
several  years  past  it  has  unfortunately  happened,  that  many 
honest  people  have  been  lost  and  killed,  it  ought  to  be  plain 
now,  that  it  came  by  treachery,  and  by  means  of  the  same  lights, 
which  burn  in  one  confederacy  at  this  day.  Therefore  they 
agree  that  these  lights  ought  t-o  be  put  out.  For  such  cause 
it  is  to  be  feared,  if  our  people  unite  with  the  people  of  the 
twelve  cantons,  that  they  will  be  brought  to  dishonor  by  them, 
for  it  is  the  common  talk,  that  the  twelve  cantons  wish  to  ap- 
point the  Duke  of  Wurtemberg,  and,  if  it  then  go  well  or  ill  with 
the  Confederates,  that  it  would  be  little  to  the  credit  of  our  lords 
of  Zurich  and  their  honest  people  (it  would  not  redound  to 
their  honor  to  have  separated  themselves).  Therefore,  they 
do  not  the  less  think,  that  the  alliance  would  be  neither  godly 
nor  right  and  altogether  against  the  welfare  of  the  soul,  and 
they  beseech  our  lords  to  withdraw  themselves  therefrom,  if 
they  can,  and  set  the  hearts  of  their  honest  people  at  rest,  when 
they  can  bring  it  about.  Then  will  they  pledge  to  you  their 
lives  and  property  as  far  as  they  can.  The  assembly  at 
Stsefa  would  commend  themselves  to  your  regard,  since  they 
more  than  others  will  have  to  meet  with  reproaches. " 

"A  general  assembly  in  the  department  of  Grueningen  have 
unanimously  resolved  to  give  this  answer  to  our  envoys,  saying : 
Worthy  lords,  to  come  to  us  for  counsel  was  not  needful,  for  the 

^  To  avoid  repetition  in  the  answers,  we  will  hereafter  give  tiiose 
only,  which  contain  something  new,  or  characteristic. 


72  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

Teason  that  we  own  you  as  our  lords  and  superiors  and  willingly 
esteem  you  as  such.  Hence  we  ought  to  be  rightly  obedient  to 
you  in  all  your  plans^  and  cheerfully  aid  you.  But  since  you 
desire  to  know  our  wishes  and  feelings,  great  praise  and  honor 
are  given  on  all  sides  to  our  gracious,  loving  lords,  who  have 
hitherto  pleased  us  so  well,  for  their  excellent  management; 
and  it  gives  us  great  satisfaction,  that  you  have  so  faithfully 
remembered  your  own,  and  are  not  willing,  for  the  sake  of 
money,  that  they  should  be  bound;  and  we  beseech  you  by  the 
Most  High  Grod  to  stick  to  your  resolution  and  give  the  com- 
plete go-by  to  foreign  lords,  and  foreign  wars  and  foreign 
money,  as  clearly  shown  in  the  contents  of  the  paper  concern- 
ing its  removal,  sworn  to,  years  ago,  in  Zurich  and  all  its 
dependencies.  So  we  hope  it  will  be  adhered  to  and  followed 
up.  But  if  any  one  acts  contrary  thereto,  or  has  acted,  then 
you,  our  lords,  well  know,  what  punishment  is  due  to  him,  and 
therefore  we  desire  that  you  will  consider  the  profit  and  honor 
of  our  country :  so  will  we  pledge  to  you  our  lives,  honor,  goods 
and  everything  else,  God  has  given  us,  as  a  true  child  to  his 
father;  and  will  stand  by  you,  like  pious,  honest  people. 
Further,  it  is  our  urgent  petition,  that  by  some  means  you  will 
drive  Albert  von  Stein  and  others,  who  serve  the  French  for 
pay,  from  your  city  and  canton,  so  that  honest  folk  be  not  cor- 
rupted and  good  comrades  brought  to  sorrow,  for  it  would  not 
be  to  the  credit  of  the  city  and  our  lords  to  have  an  honest  man 
and  his  children  stirred  up  to  sedition  and  led  astray.  And  it 
is  also  our  prayer  and  desire,  that  our  lords  warn  the  several 
cantons  of  the  dangers  of  such  an  alliance.  And  to  this  and 
all  the  articles,  as  here  written,  and  whatever  else  it  may  please 
our  lords  to  add,  the  honest  people  of  this  bailiwick,  pledge 
their  lives  and  goods,  as  poor  folks  ought  to  do  to  their  lords 
and  masters.'' 

^'Greifensee  is  not  at  all  pleased  with  the  alliance,  since  th 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  73 

up-sliot  of  it  would  be,  to  make  the  king  of  France  our  master 
instead  of  our  gracious,  loving  lords  of  Zurich." 

Duebendorf,  Dietikon  and  Rieden  declare  themselves  in  the 
same  way,  thanking,  agreeing  and  resolving;  Hoengg  likewise, 
the  department  of  Old  Regensperg  and  New  Regensperg,  Neu- 
amt;  the  Schultheiss,  Council  and  general  assembly  at  Buelach; 
the  burgomaster,  councils  and  general  assembly  of  the  de- 
partment of  Eglisau;  the  bailiwicks  of  Masch wander,  Freianit 
and  Hedingen;  Waedenschweil  also,  and  Richtenschweil  with 
the  addition:  '^If  our  dear  lords  thus  hold  fast  and  keep 
always  in  the  right  way,  it  is  our  prayer,  though  they  have 
heretofore  eaten  and  drunk  with  the  French,  that  they  still 
drive  them  off;  and  that  it  be  done  by  the  Councils  in  the  city 
and  in  the  country,  and  finally,  that  they  maintain  the  heredit- 
ary union  of  His  Imperial  Majesty,  all  as  they  have  written.'' 

Horgen  adds  this  request :  "Even  though  it  should  result  in 
suffering  and  trial  to  our  lords,  to  expel  the  foreign  and  German 
French  from  their  city  and  canton,  yet  they  would  then  be, 
neither  French  nor  Imperial,  but  good  Zurichers  and  Con- 
federates/' 

"A  general  assembly  at  Thalweil  has  resolved  firstly,  that  the 
paper  which  has  reached  them  from  Luzern  is  in  no  wise  ac- 
ceptable, for  they  do  not  believe  that  such  a  letter  has  been 
prepared  honestly  and  at  the  command  of  delegated  ambassadors, 
lords  and  rulers,  but  suspect  that  it  has  been  hatehed  in  corners 
and  is  chiefly  the  production  of  the  German  French.  Accord- 
ingly it  is  their  will  and  opinion,  and  very  urgent  prayer,  that 
our  lords  will  stick  to  their  praiseworthy  design  not  to  enter  into 
alliances  and  treaties  either  with  the  French  or  other  foreign 
lords  and  ever  boldly  keep  to  their  honest  way— and  then,  that 
judgment  and  authority  be  immediately  exercised,  in  the  city 
of  our  lords,  against  certain  German  French,  who  travel  about 
here  and  there,  using  l^aughty  and  improper  language  in  order  to 

^     T 


/■i  LIFE    OF    ZWINOLT. 

stir  up  your  own  and  other  people — it  is  the  friendly  petition 
of  this  whole  assembly  that  my  lords  will  drive  oft"  such  sedi- 
tious characters,  and  should  this  not  be  done,  persons  can  be 
found  perhaps,  who  will  themselves  undertake  to  drive  them 
off  and  restore  quiet,  for  the  reason  that  heretofore  and  now  every 
disturbance  has  arisen  from  these  German  French — so  will  they 
place  body  and  blood  at  the  disposal  of  my  lords/' 

Kilchberg,  Altorf,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  county  of  Kyburg, 
and  Kloten  give  thanks  and  vote  decidedly  in  favor  of  de- 
clining. 

Upper  Winterthur,  having  heard  the  paper  read,  resolved  to 
return  this  answer :  "  Our  lords  have  hitherto  acted  honorably 
and  well  in  other  similar  affairs,  hence,  in  good  hope  they  will 
do  so  in  the  future,  we  confide  in  our  lords  as  honorable  men. 
Therefore  it  is  their  humble  prayer  and  desire,  that,  as  far  as 
may  be,  our  lords  will  not  separate  themselves  from  the  Con- 
federacy, but  continue  one  with  it ;  so  will  they  ever  act  as 
dutiful  subjects  and  pledge  to  our  lords  their  lives  and  property 
and  whatever  else  God  has  given  them.'' 

"  The  baiiiif,  council  and  general  assembly  at  Elggau  thus 
answer,  that,  not  having  understanding  and  skill  enough  to 
speak  and  advise  in  this  or  in  matters  of  much  less  moment^ 
they  leave  the  business  in  the  hands  of  our  lords  3  yet  it  is 
their  prayer,  that  our  lords  hold  the  Confederacy  in  friendship 
and  favor,  but  none  the  less  will  they  pledge  to  our  lords  their 
lives  and  fortunes." 

"  The  burgomaster,  bailiff,  council  and  general  assembly  at 
Stein  vote  for  declining  the  alliance,  since,  if  it  should  be  ac- 
cepted, they  would  be  afraid  lest  it  should  prove  a  great  disad- 
vantage and  injury  to  the  inhabitants  of  Stein  and  cause  them 
sensible  loss  if  war  should  arise  therefrom,  namely  in  their 
tolls,  licenses,  market-monies,  quarteF-<|^^s,  pasturing  and 
watches,  for  lying  on  the  borders  they  would  t^.aye  to  bear  the 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  75 

first  brunt,  and  hence  wisli  our  lords  to  care  for  them  in  the 
most  faithful  manner/' 

Upper  and  Lower  Stammheim  and  Marthalen  leave  the  busi- 
ness in  the  hands  of  their  lords. 

^^Andelfingen  has  framed  this  answer:  As  our  lords  have 
hitherto  managed  well  for  us,  they  are  wise  and  prudent  enough 
to  act  in  this  affair.  Yet  finally,  they  pray  that  our  lords  may 
remain  in  peace  and  quiet  and  continue  one  also  with  the  com- 
mon confederates,  and,  in  case  it  may  be  reasonably  effected, 
that  our  lords  do  not  separate  themselves  from  the  Confederacy, 
desiring  which,  they  place  at  their  disposal  their  lives  and  pro- 
perty, and  will  be  found  as  faithful  and  obedient  subjects.'' 

The  opinion  of  the  citizens  was  altogether  the  same  as  that 
of  the  great  majority  of  the  country-people.  Everywhere  the 
heads  of  corporations  were  commissioned  to  make  this  known 
to  the  Council,  so  that  it  was  resolved  in  the  end,  after  deliberat- 
ing a  long  time  yet  with  little  opposition,  to  give  a  decided  re- 
fusal to  the  alliance.  But  the  answer  was  sent  to  the  twelve 
cantons  and  Francis  I.,  couched  in  moderate  language,  that 
Zurich  would  honestly  hold  to  the  Perpetual  Peace  with  France, 
faithfully  maintain  all  the  treaties  sworn  with  the  Confederates, 
and  not  separate  herself  from  them  but  place  life  and  property 
at  their  disposal,  that  she  also  begged  for  the  continued  good 
will  of  France  and  allegiance  to  the  Confederation  on  the  part 
of  the  Swiss;  and  yet  at  the  same  time  was  firmly  resolved 
henceforth  to  renounce  the  pensions  of  princes  and  foreign  al- 
liance, trusting  in  the  help  of  God. 

From  now  on  every  public  voice  in  favor  of  foreign  mer- 
cenary service  was  compelled  to  silence,  and  its  avowed  or  secret 
promoters  hid  their  resentment  or  left  the  canton.  In  fact  the 
most  notorious  among  them  threw  up  their  citizenship  in  Zu- 
rich. But  the  entire  party  of  those,  who  remained  in  their 
native  country,  conceived  the  fiercest  hatred  toward  Zwingli. 


76  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

"  He  was  blamed/'  says  Bullinger,  "  most  of  all  for  having  pre- 
vented tlie  union  by  his  preaching  and  divided  a  brave  con- 
federacy. The  distinguished  pensioners  and  soldiers,  as  well  as 
others,  who  had  heretofore  run  after  him  and  praised  his  ser- 
mons, now  reviled  Zwingli  as  a  heretic.  Many,  to  whom  reli- 
gion had  never  any  special  charms  before,  now  pretended  a 
great  interest  on  its  behalf,  saying,  they  would  defend  the  old, 
true  faith  against  the  heretic  Zwingli,  yet  the  secret  of  their 
zeal  was  not  in  their  faith,  but  in  the  bags  of  the  royal  ex- 
chequer. Hence  there  arose  among  the  other  confederates  a 
strong  hostility  against  Zurich  and  abuse  and  slander  against 
Zwingli.''  Still  the  cause  of  the  people  and  the  uprightness 
and  fidelity,  which  maintains  an  oath,  triumphed  in  the  end. 

The  ground-pillar  of  all  national  prosperity  is  confidence, 
faith  on  the  part  of  the  people  in  their  government,  and  on  that 
of  the  government  in  the  sound  and  just  sense  of  the  people. 
No  constitution  or  laws,  sacred  as  they  may  be  in  the  eyes  of 
the  honorable  citizen,  no  so-called  policy,  which  rests  on  a  sys- 
tem of  deceptions,  no  rude  strength  of  a  dominant  party,  can 
ever  supply  the  place  of  faith — faith,  which  alone  inspires  to 
nobler  action.  Hence  the  necessity  in  the  state  for  religion 
also,  which  is  the  same  as  faith  purified  In  every  wise  gov- 
ernment therefore  it  will  be  a  chief  concern  that  the  religion  of 
the  people  be  a  sound  one,  i.  e.  one  that  will  be  justified  by  its 
practical  results,  for  in  regard  to  these  only  can  we  look  for 
unanimity  of  opinion. 

Christianity,  freed  from  all  the  unwarranted  additions  with 
which  national  prejudice,  narrowness  and  love  of  spiritual 
domination  have  striven  for  centuries  to  disfigure  it,  has  no 
reason  to  shun  this  trial,  out  of  which  it  can  only  come  forth 
more  glorious  and  divine.  Of  this  Zwingli  had  been  fully  per- 
suaded by  his  zealous  study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Hew 
natui-ally  the  idea  rose  in  his  mind,  to  make  this  trial  before  the 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  77 

people  themselves,  who  had  hitherto  been  bound  in  the  fetters 
of  a  religion,  which  addressed  them  only  by  authority,  instead 
of  before  councils  exclusively  composed  of  clergymen  and  lords  ! 
Still  it  was  a  great  venture.  The  weakened  eye,  when  suddenly 
brought  forth  from  the  darkness,  is  blinded  even  by  the  purest 
light;  the  healthy  one  alone  can  endure  the  splendor  of  the 
sun.  And  yet  upon  this  very  power  in  a  decided  majority  of 
his  countrymen  Zwingli  relied,  and  the  memorials,  which  we 
have  just  read,  might  have  fully  convinced  him  that  sound  sense 
was  really  at  hand.  But  ought  this  claim  to  be  preferred  in  polit- 
ical matters,  and  not  in  ecclesiastical  also  ?  Thus  much  is  clear, 
that  from  this  time  forward  Zwingli's  endeavors  tookthis  direction. 

If  the  bishop  would  deny  him  a  hearing  or  condemn  him 
contrary  to  justice,  he  intended  to  appeal  not  to  ultra-montane 
Rome,  ignorant  of  the  German  language  and  the  German  char- 
acter, but  to  the  judgment  of  his  own  nation,  to  the  decision  of 
an  independent  government  entitled  to  act  in  the  case,  and  the 
rule  should  be  the  Holy  Scriptures,  an  unassailable  code  of 
laws  acknowledged  by  all.  And  thus  the  fundamental  idea  of 
the  Reformed  Church  naturally  arose,  which  in  its  development 
has  been  more  clearly  defined  rather  than  corrupted, — limited 
rather  than  extended.  To  follow  out  and  discuss  this  subject 
is  not  our  business;  hence  we  turn  back  to  Zwingli. 

He  had  now  preached  for  three  whole  years  in  Zurich,  and 
the  agitation,  as  we  have  seen,  was  certainly  great.  Still  no  one 
had  as  yet  violated  existing  church-usages  or  actually  assailed 
them.  No  opportunity  for  public  interference  on  the  part  of  the 
temporal  and  spiritual  authorities  had  yet  occurred.  Indeed  it 
was  the  policy  of  the  Nuncio  to  keep  in  with  the  influential 
Reformer,  since,  as  the  deputy  of  a  prince  then  at  war  with 
France,  he  was  proscribed  by  the  other  twelve  cantons,  and 
could  only  hope  for  protection  in  neutral  Zurich,  where  he 
anxiously  sought  it. 

7* 


78  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

During  Lent  in  the  year  1522  several  individuals  ventured 
for  the  first  time  to  transgress  the  episcopal  ordinance  in  regard 
to  the  eating  of  meat,  in  a  dissimilar  manner  it  is  true.  Chris- 
topher Froschauer,  a  printer,  having  in  the  course  of  his  business 
visited  the  Frankfort  Fair,  and  become  thus  acquainted  with 
Luther's  writings  and  a  witness  of  the  spiritual  awakening  in 
G  ermany,  had,  when  compelled  by  labor  severer  than  usual,  partak- 
en along  with  his  workmen  of  more  strengthening  food  than  was  al- 
lowed, yet  without  concealment  on  the  one  hand  and  without  seek- 
ing publicity  on  the  other.  For  quite  difi"erent  reasons  William 
Roubli,  an  outlawed  clergyman  from  Basel,  whom  Zwingli 
himself  has  styled  a  rash  and  foolish  babbler,  and  Hans  Gunt- 
helm,  an  impudent  deserter,  had  not  only  done  the  same  with 
great  parade  and  loose  talk,  but  had  attempted  also  to  induce 
other  families  to  join  them.  Gladly  did  Zwingli's  enemies 
seize  this  opportunity  to  lodge  complaints  before  the  Council. 
An  investigation  was  held  and  Froschauer  defended  himself 
with  dignity.  The  Council  desired  the  opinion  of  the  chapter 
of  canons,  the  three  people's  priests  in  the  two  cathedrals  and 
at  the  church  of  St.  Peter,  and  thus  the  battle  began  in  the 
very  midst  of  the  authorities.  The  parties  were  ncrly 
anccd,  more  talent  on  the  one  side,  greater  numbers  on  the 
other. 

The  result  was  an  affirmation  of  the  rights  of  the  Pope 
and  the  bishops,  and  a  feeble  explanation,  which  left  the  gov- 
ernment free  scope  to  act  for  itself — and  it  all  ended  in  a  simple 
reprimand  to  the  transgressors.  But  Zwingli's  opponents  were 
by  no  means  satisfied.  They  applied  now  to  the  bishop,  and  a 
few  days  after,  Melchior  Yattli,  sufi"ragan  of  Constance,  John 
Wanner,  cathedral-preacher,  and  Doctor  Brendlin  appeared 
with  an  embassy  to  the  chapter  of  canons.  At  this  very  first 
interfcrenoe  of  the  high  ecclesiastical  dignitaries,  the  affair  took 
a  direction,   which  it  retained   in  every  step  that   followed. 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  79 

"What  Zwinali  liiiuself  has  to  say  in  regard  to  this  event  de- 
serves careful  attention,'^' 

"When" — he  wi-ites  to  his  friend,  the  canon  Erasmus  Fa- 
bricius,  then  pastor  at  Stein — '^on  the  seventh  of  April  the 
ambassadors,  of  whose  approach  I  had  already  been  apprized, 
had  reached  Zurich,  I  wished  much  to  learn  what  their  pur- 
pose might  be.     But  night  had   set  in,    before    my   faithful 
assistant,  Henry  Luethy,  came  with  the  news,  that  the  notarius 
(as  he  is  called)  had  an  order  to  summon  all  the  priests  to 
attend  early  in  the  morning  in   the  hall  of  the  convent.     I 
esteemed  it  a  good  omen,  that  the  business  was  to  be  opened  by 
a  courser  so  dull  and  limping.     Scarcely  had  we  assembled  on 
the  morrow,  when  the  bishop  began  in  a  fashion,  which  I  will 
portray  further  on  in  the  conduct  of  affairs  before  the  Council. 
The   whole    speech    was   violent,    threatening    and    haughty, 
i  Ithough  he  carefully  abstained  from  any  personal  allusions  to 
mysjlt  and  even  avoided  calling  me  by  name.     His  declama- 
tion over,  I  stepped  out,  thinking  it  unbecoming  and  pusillani- 
mous not  to  neutralize  an  address,  that  might  do  so  much  injury, 
especially  because  I  could  perceive  by  their  smothered  sighs, 
and  read  in  the  paleness  of  their  faces  the  strong  impression  it 
had  made  on  several  priests,  who  shortly  before  had  been  won 
over  to  the  Gospel  and  were  not  yet  firm  as  rocks.     Concisely 
and  boldly  I  replied  to  the  suffragan,  in  what  sense  and  spirit, 
let  the  valiant  ones,  who  have  heard  me,  judge.     The  most  im- 
portant part  of  it  you  will  learn  meanwhile,  when  I  come  to 
describe  the  session  of  the  Council.     The  speakers  withdrew 
from  this  wing,  as  though  he  were  beaten  or  put  to  flight,  and 
hastened  to  another  field   of  combat,  namely  the  hall  of  the 

*  Only  the  first  and  shorter  part  of  Zwingli's  Latin  letter  is  here 
translated  ;  the  second  and  larger,  which,  based  on  numerous  passages 
of  Scripture,  contains  Zwingli's  vindication  and  belongs  more  to  theol- 
ogy than  history,  will  be  quoted  again  merely  in  its  leading  features. 


80  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Council,  wliere,  as  some  of  the  members  informed  me,  they 
brought  it  forward,  likewise  sparing  my  name,  yet  with  the 
declaration,  lest  I  might  perhaps  be  called  in,  that  they  had 
nothing  to  do  with  me.  After  a  short  discussion,  it  was 
resolved  to  have  as  full  a  meeting  of  the  Great  Council  as 
possible  on  the  following  day,  and  also  to  guard  ;:•_.  inst  the 
admission  ■  the  people's  priests,  as  there  was  no  dependence 
to  be  placed  on  them  and  their  language,  so  unexceptionable, 
could  not  be  contradicted.  Through  the  whole  day  I  tried  my 
utmost  to  gain  admission  for  us,  but  in  vain.  The  burgomasters 
refused  me,  falling  back  on  the  resolution  of  the  Council.  I 
was  now  compelled  to  retire,  but  besought  Him,  who  hears  the 
sighing  of  the  prisoner,  that  he  would  not  leave  the  truth  help- 
less, and  that  he  would  protect  His  Gospel,  which  he  had 
commissioned  me  to  preach.  On  the  ninth  the  Great  Council 
came  together.  ^It  is  unfair,^  many  were  heard  to  say,  'if  the 
people's  priests  are  not  allowed  to  appear  j'  but  the  Small  Coun- 
cil protested,  holding  firmly  to  its  resolution.  Nevertheless 
the  vote  was  carried  against  its  protest,  and  the  majority 
decided  in  favor  of  our  presence  with  the  privilege  at  the  same 
time  of  making  replies,  if  we  should  find  it  necessary.  Thus, 
as  Livy  says,  the  greater  number  did  not  overcome  the  better; 
no,  the  greater  and  the  better  triumphed.  Not  in  the  least 
degree  do  I  permit  myself  to  censure  the  Small  Council  for 
this;  no:  I  wish  only  to  show  how  powerless  intrigues  are. 
Now,  after  the  ambassadors  had  been  introduced,  they  sufi'ered 
us  also  to  enter,  the  bishops  of  Zurich,  Henry  Engelhart,  doc- 
tor and  people's  priest  at  the  cathedral  of  the  Virgin — Rudolph 
Roeschli  of  St.  Peter,  and  me  Ulric  Zwingli. 

''After  the  exchange  of  salutations  and  the  episcopal  bene- 
diction the  suffragan  began  with  a  voice  so  mild  that  I  never 
heard  a  sweeter,  so  that  if  head  and  heart  had  only  been  in 
unison,  Orpheus  and  Apollo  would  have  been  obliged  to  yield 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  81 

to  tim  iu  grace,  and  Demosthenes  and  the  Gracchi  in  eloquence. 
In  vain  would  I  attempt  to  communicate  to  you  the  discourse 
entire.  It  was  confused  and  much  too  long.  Meanwhile  I  had 
noted  down  the  chief  points  in  my  tablets.  It  is  greatly  to  be 
deplored — said  he — that  there  are  some  who  teach  in  a  perverse 
and  rebellious  spirit  that  we  are  no  longer  bound  to  observe 
human  precepts  and  ceremonies.  Thus  not  merely  the  civil 
laws,  but  the  faith  of  all  Christendom  also  must  go  to  the 
ground.  Yet  ceremonies  are  a  manuduction  (he  employed  this 
word,  instead  of  the  German  "introduction,"  before  men,  who 
did  not  understand  Latin)  to  virtue.  Indeed  ceremonies  are 
a  source  (he  afterwards  denied  having  used  the  word)  of  vir- 
tues. We  may  teach  that  fasting  is  supei-fluous,  because  some 
have  dared  to  separate  themselves  from  other  Christians  and 
from  the  Church  by  the  eating  of  meat.  We  may  appeal  to 
the  Holy  Scriptures  whilst  they  contain  no  direct  expressions 
bearing  on  the  subject,  go  against  the  decrees  and  Councils  of 
the  Holy  Fathers  of  the  Church,  against  most  venerable  usages, 
which  without  the  aid  of  tho  Holy  Ghost  could  not  possibly 
have  endured  so  long,  for  Gamaliel  c  nee  said:  If  ihe  work  be 
of  God,  it  will  stand.  Then  he  reminded  the  Council  that 
outside  of  the  Church  no  one  can  be  saved,  and  as  though  he 
had  not  talked  enough,  he  came  back  once  more  to  ceremonies. 
At  last  he  concluded  with  a  neat  peroration  and  rose  up  to  re- 
tire along  with  his  companions. 

"  Sir  Suffragan — said  I,  ( I,  peasant,  ought  to  have  used 
"Gracious  Lord") — may  it  please  you  and  your  associates  to 
stay,  till  I  have  justified  myself  in  my  own  name  and  in  that  of 
my  colleagues  ?  He  replied — We  have  no  commission  to  dis- 
pute. I  do  not  intend  to  dispute  but  to  utter  publicly  and 
freely  what  I  have  hitherto  taught  in  presence  of  these  honest 
men,  before  you,  learned  scholars  and  ambassadors  present  with 
a  commission  from  the  bishop,  so  that  it  will  be  deemed  the 


82  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

more  worthy  of  belief  if  you  yourself  are  obliged  to  find  it 
tnie;  if  not,  then  let  the  contrary  happen.  We  have  not — 
said  the  saiFragan — spoken  against  you,  hence  there  is  no  need 
of  your  vindication.  You  have  indeed  kept  back  my  name;  but 
your  speech  was  none  the  less  aimed  at  me.  As  the  combatant 
in  the  water  said  to  his  antagonist,  you  say  to  me:  My  blow  is 
not  aimed  at  you,  it  is  aimed  at  the  fish.  For  this  reason  you 
were  not  to  use  my  name,  because  you  could  thus  charge  me, 
who  am  called  Zwingli,  with  the  greatest  crime  in  the  safest  man- 
ner. Whilst  we  were  contending  in  this  style,  the  burgomas- 
ter Roist  tried  to  induce  the  deputies  from  Constance  to  give  us 
a  hearing.  The  saffragan  answered,  that  he  knew  very  well 
whither  this  thing  would  lead;  that  Ulric  Zwingli  was  too  vio- 
lent and  rude,  so  that  he  could  not  meddle  with  him  honorably 
and  keep  the  path  of  moderation.  By  what  then — I  asked — 
have  I  ever  injured  you?  Or  according  to  what  law  must  I, 
an  innocent  man,  zealous  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  be  so  heavily 
and  bitterly  assaulted,  and  yet  not  be  allowed  to  defend  myself? 
Indeed — or  do  I  deceive  myself?  I  would  have  ventured  lo 
hope,  that  the  Bishop  of  Constance,  though  opposition  to  the 
pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  had  found  foothold  elsewhere,  be- 
fore he  took  the  words  of  others  instead  of  mine,  would  make 
himself  acquainted  with  the  whole  affair,  especially  through 
you,  whom  he  has  now  chosen  as  his  legates  on  account  of  your 
learning.  What  would  you  do  if  in  your  absence  I  would  turn 
to  the  Council  and  refuse  to  hear  you  as  judges?  And  now, 
since  I  wish  your  presence  so  much,  in  order  to  be  able  to  give 
in  an  account,  how  dare  you  deny  me?  The  deputies  repeated 
what  they  had  said  before.  If  I  wished  to  lay  anything  before 
the  bishop,  in  regard  to  his  doctrine,  I  could  write  to  him. 
Now — said  I — if  no  arguments  can  persuade  you  to  show  me 
this  uivor,  I  beg  you  by  our  common  faith,  our  common  bap- 
tism, for  the  sake  of  Christ  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  if  you  durst 


LIFE   OP    ZWINGLI.  Sv 

not  listen  a.s  ambassadors,  do  it  then  as  Christians.  Here  arose 
an  indignant  murmur  among  the  councillors  and  at  last,  being 
exhorted  by  the  burgomaster,  and  feeling  themselves  the  un- 
worthiness  of  the  opposition,  they  took  possession  of  their 
former  places." 

The  people's  priest  began  now  by  referring  to  the  internal 
harmony  of  Zurich  and  her  peaceful  position  toward  foreign 
countries.  He  asked  whether  these  could  be  a  result  of 
seditious  doctrines,  and  such  especially  as  were  derived  from 
the  Gospel,  which  commands  us  to  render  unto  Ccesar  the 
things  that  are  Caesar's  and  obey  our  rulers?  He  showed  what 
human  ordinances  were,  and  denied  that  he  rejected  them 
without  discrimination.  Their  beneficial  tendency  ought  to  be 
proven,  and  they,  who  enjoin  them,  ought  to  observe  them  also. 
He  had  never  encouraged  a  violation  of  the  rules  of  fasting, 
but  rather  advised  them  to  be  kept,  in  order  to  spare  the  weak. 
Yet  he  esteemed  such  restraint  pharisaical  and  in  conflict  with 
the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  Gospel.  Vattli  was  about  to  make 
objections,  when  Engelhart  drew  out  his  Greek  Testament,  and, 
having  opened  it  at  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  chapter  of  the 
first  epistle  to  Timothy,  handed  it  to  Zwiugli.  Zwiugli  trans- 
lated the  passage.  Then  the  suffragan  said  nothing  on  this 
point,  but  exhorted  the  Council  to  respect  the  decrees  of  the 
Fathers  and  their  usages,  and  not  to  sunder  themselves  from 
the  Church.  ''Do  not  suifer  yourselves  to  be  persuaded,  my 
dear  lords" — replied  Zwingli — "that  anything  permitted  by 
us  can  produce  such  an  effect.  Among  all  people,  he  who  does 
i-ighteousness  and  loves  God,  he  who  believes  the  words  of 
Jesus  and  follows  Him,  belongs  to  his  Church. " — This  Wcis 
succeeded  by  many  speeches  on  one  side  and  the  other,  which 
gradually  became  so  warm  that  the  burgomaster  dissolved  the 
meeting.  But  a  unanimous  resolution  was  passed  by  the  Great 
Council,  to  request  the  Bishop,  so  to  influence  the  highest  au- 


84  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

ttorities  tliat  by  means  of  a  council  of  learned  men  and  synods 
an  opportunity  should  be  afibrded  for  explanation  and  reply 
in  regard  to  the  point  in  dispute.  The  people's  priests  were  to 
be  exhorted  meanwhile  to  enforce  obedience  to  the  rules  of 
fasting. 

By  this  important  event,  happening  in  the  midst  of  the 
highest  authorities  of  the  canton,  the  fire,  which  had  hitherto 
existed  only  in  scattered  sparks  was  now  suddenly  fanned  into 
a  clear  blaze.  The  laity  and  priests,  the  bishop,  the  govern- 
ment and  even  the  Confederates  took  steps,  which  compelled 
Zwingli,  in  the  course  of  the  same  year  to  vindicate  himself 
on  all  sides,  to  buckle  on  his  armor  for  the  conflict  and  de- 
clare himself  openly. 

The  canon  Hoffman,  stirred  up  by  the  legation  of  the  Bishop, 
was  the  first  to  take  the  field.  A  good  scholar  of  the  old  type, 
pure  in  his  morals,  in  former  years  a  frank  and  fearless  orator 
of  the  people,  devoted,  as  was  natural  for  an  old  man,  to  the 
forms  in  which  he  had  moved  during  a  long  life,  he  esteemed 
it  a  duty  to  defend  them,  and  that  so  much  the  more,  because 
he  was  summoned  to  the  task  by  the  other  clergy.  He  was 
lacking,  however,  in  two  particulars.  According  to  his  own 
confession  he  had  heard  Zwingli  but  seldom.  Still  he  received 
as  truth  what  was  reported  to  him  about  his  sermons,  and 
boasted  too  much  of  his  riper  experience  against  a  man  scarce 
forty  years  old.  Making  skillful  use  of  these  weak  points,  the 
armed  warrior  advanced  the  more  resolutely  against  the  rusted 
weapons  of  his  antagonist.  The  old  man  could  not  maintain 
his  position.  At  a  later  period  he  once  more  regained  his 
courage,  and  certainly  it  must  be  said  to  his  honor,  that, 
though  vanquished,  he  did  not  shun  the  knightly  combat. 

With  great  bluntness,  and  not  to  a  limited  circle  of  associates 
like  Hoffman,  the  monks  poured  out  their  wrath  from  the  con- 
vent-pulpits.    The  more  tasteless,  silly,   and   ridiculous  their 


LIFE   OF    ZWIXQLI.  85 

revilings  were,  the  more  did  tliey  expose  themselves  to  the 
edge  of  Zwingli's  keen  argument  and  wit.  Without  mercy  he 
fell  upon  these  people,  among  whom,  as  far  as  the  monasteries 
of  the  city  are  concerned,  not  a  single  one  is  known,  to  whose 
praise  anything  can  be  said.  We  need  only  read  his  writings 
to  see  how,  dealing  blow  upon  blow,  he  pursued  them  into 
every  corner,  aud  brought  out  the  truth  in  the  clearness  of 
sunlight  against  their  loose  harangues.  But  then,  in  the  pride 
of  victoiy  he  suffered  himself  to  run  perhaps  into  an  extreme, 
which  did  not  comport  well  with  the  earnestness  of  the  pulpit 
or  of  controversy  conducted  in  a  dignified  manner,  and  zealous 
use  was  made  of  this  fact  to  his  reproach.* 

Remarkable  phenomena  began  t-o  develop  themselves  from 
this  pulpit-battle  against  the  monks.  Hot-headed  characters, 
old  and  young,  impelled  sometimes  by  a  convictioD  of  the 
truth,  but  oftener  by  conceit  and  a  desire  to  make  a  noise  in 
the  world,  interrupted  the  awkward  preachers  in  the  midst  of 
their  discourses,  and  accused  them  of  teaching  error  and  even 
lies.  A  tumult  arose  in  the  church.  It  might  easily  become  a 
theatre  of  dishonorable  strife.  The  Council  arrested  several  of 
the  most  violent  of  these  stormers  and  forbade  all  such  disord- 
erly behavior  in  future.  Already  the  monks  were  in  hopes 
they  had  won  the  day;  but  Zwingli  did  not  suffer  them  to  es- 
cape, and  probably  at  his  suggestion  the  preachers  of  the  three 
orders  were  unexpectedly  summoned  to  the  house  of  the  pro- 
vost, where  with  a  deputation  from  the  government,  the  burg- 
omaster Roist  at  its  head,  the  three  people's  priests,  the  com- 

*  Thus,  for  example,  after  some  cutting  expressions,  he  uses  the 
words; 

<*  Very  learned  Father, 

Full  and  plump, 

Open  the  s"wollcn  syllogism. 

Or  the  foul  hoof 

Must  give  waj,'* 


86  IJFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

mander  Schmied  and  all  the  canons  were  assembled,  and 
Zwino-li,  beino;  called  on,  began  to  read  aloud  from  a  written 
document  to  each  individual,  the  errors  which  he  had  taught. 
They  were  greatly  amazed,  and  denied  some  things,  but  admit- 
ted others.  An  attempt  was  now  made  to  have  the  chapter  of 
canons  appointed  as  umpire  and  mediator,  but  Zwingli  instantly 
opposed  it  with  all  his  might:  "I" — said  he — "am  bishop 
and  pastor  in  Zurich ;  to  me  the  care  of  souls  is  committed, 
and  I  have  given  my  oath  thereon,  the  monks  not.  They 
should  hear  me,  not  I  them.  Indeed,  if  they  ever  again  preach 
lies,  I  will  mount  the  pulpit  and  rebuke  them  publicly.''  Only 
in  the  conviction  of  his  own  strength  durst  he  venture  to  use 
such  language.  Only  their  felt  weakness  struck  his  opponents 
dumb.  Dr.  Engelhart  and  the  Commander  Schmied  also  sided 
with  Zwingli.  The  Councils  saw  themselves  obliged  to  follow 
the  men  of  learniDg,  and  the  burgomaster  concluded  the  act 
with  the  words:  "Yes,  Masters  of  the  Orders,  this  is  also  the 
opinion  of  my  colleagues,  that  henceforth  vi  u  must  preach  the 
Gospel,  Paul  and  the  Prophets,  and  let  Scotus,  Thomas*  and 
such  stuff  lie. " 

The  monks,  compelled  now  to  restrain  themselves  somewhat 
in  the  pulpit,  renewed  their  attacks  the  more  stubbornly  in 
private  houses,  confessionals,  drinking-gardens  and  wherever 
else  they  could  do  so  with  safety.  From  Bunden,  Constance, 
Luzern  and  Schwyz  reports  of  their  calumnies  reached  him 
through  his  friends.  Nothing  pained  him  so  much  as  that  he 
should  be  charged  with  distorting  the  Gospel.  "  Though  I 
had  firmly  resolved" — so  he  says  in  a  sermon — "not  to  answer 
those,  who  invented  stories  as  to  how  many  children  were  born 
to  me  this  year,  and  as  to  how  much  money  I  got  from 
princes  and  lords,  yet  I  never  could  bear  that  such  slander 
should  be  believed  concerning  me.     Any  one  may  say  what  he 

*  Obscure  teachers  of  a  former  age. 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  87 

pleases  about  my  morals,  but  blasphemy  I  will  not  tolerate. " 
But  tlien,  the  best  citizens  of  Zurich  roused  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  enthusiasm  clung  to  him,  especially  the  younger  gen- 
eration, who  trooped  around  him  like  a  body-guard;  and 
besides  these,  friends  sprang  up  beyond  the  canton  on  all  sides, 
who  came  out  boldly,  or  watched  over  him  in  secret,  were  active 
on  his  behalf,  and  sympathized  in  his  struggles.  In  Luzern, 
Myconius  and  the  canon  Kilchmeier  advocated  his  cause  even 
against  statesmen  and  envoys  of  the  Confederacy  with  danger 
to  themselves,  holding  out  as  long  as  it  was  possible.  In  St. 
Gall,  the  same  thing  was  done  by  Vadianus,  who  had  returned 
from  Vienna  and  settled  in  his  native  city;  in  Constance  by  the 
prebendary  Wanner,  who,  when  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  em- 
bassy, had  been  won  over  by  the  weight  of  his  arguments;  in 
Bern  by  the  Franciscan,  Sebastian  Meier,  and  in  Freiburg  by 
the  youthful  organist  Kother,  who  expressed  his  love  for  him 
in  verses  after  the  manner  of  a  capuchin-sermon.  Martin 
SiDnger,  a  native  of  Graubunden,  sent  him  a  poem  against  his 
and  Luther's  enemies,  from  the  fictitious  pen  of  the  Abbot  von 
Pfaeffers,  with  the  request  that  he  would  revise  and  prepare  it 
for  publication.  He  also  received  an  evidence  of  faithful 
friendship  in  an  anonymous  letter  of  a  more  serious  kind,  writ- 
ten half  in  Latin  and  half  in  Greek.  "Keep  a  special  guard 
over  thy  health  and  life" — so  it  mns — "for  it  is  high  time. 
Verily  thou  art  everywhere  begirt  by  snares  and  spies;  sharp 
poisjn  is  ready  for  thee.  The  knaves  durst  no  longer  rail 
against  thee  openly.  But  in  secret  they  are  plotting  to  mingle 
poisonous  mushrooms  with  thy  food,  as  was  done  for  the  Em- 
peror Claudius.  Hence  take  as  much  care  of  thyself  as  possible. 
If  tnou  art  hungry,  then  eat  at  home  bread,  which  thine 
own  maid  has  baked.  Abroad  thou  canst  eat  nowhere  with 
safety.  There  are  persons  living  within  your  walls,  who  will 
venture  eveiything  to  destroy  thee.     Who  they  are,  from  what 


88  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

oracle  I  have  learned  their  design,  I  cannot  write  thee  ',  but  it 
utters  more  truth  than  that  of  the  Delphian  Apollo;  yet  it  were 
a  uToss  sin  in  a  priest  to  give  names  either  by  mouth  or  pen. 
Thou  art  sharp-sighted,  and  able  to  guess  with  ease,  whence 
that  has  come,  which,  out  of  brotherly  love,  could  not  be  with- 
holden  from  thee.  Preserve  thyself  for  thine  own  sake,  for  thy 
followers,  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  whose  Gospel  is  proclaimed 
by  you  with  such  blessed  results.  Whoever  I  may  be,  I  am 
thine.  Thou  wilt  find  out  hereafter."  This  was  the  case.  The 
writer  was  3Iichacl  ilummelberg,  preacher  at  Ilavensburg.  Of 
the  same  import  were  the  warnings  of  others,  to  guard  the  ap- 
proaches to  his  dwelling,  to  take  care,  if  he  should  be  called 
from  home,  the  breaking  of  his  windows  by  stones  hurled  at 
them,  and  the  attack,  which  was  actually  made  one  night  on 
his  assistant  as  he  was  about  to  go  forth  at  the  feigned  call  of  a 
sick  person,  instead  of  the  people's  priest,  who  was  expected  by 
the  bandits. 

How  little  power  all  this  had  to  frighten  Zwingli  from  the 
course  he  had  marked  out  for  himself,  is  seen  in  a  yet  bolder  step, 
which  he  took  the  same  year — the  sending  of  a  petition  to  the 
Bishop  of  Constance  in  the  Latin  language  and  to  the  govern- 
ments of  the  Confederacy  in  German,  asking  them  to  approve 
the  marriage  of  priests.  No  proof  is  needed  to  show  that  the 
noblest  endeavor  of  man  is  after  self-rule,  spiritual  purification, 
the  attainment  of  the  supernatural.  A  few  rarely-gifted  indi- 
viduals press  up  this  steep  path  with  ease ;  by  far  the  greater 
number  follow  slowly  and  with  toil.  Before  deliverance  from 
the  fetters  of  eai'th,  no  one  achieves  a  complete  victory.  This 
world  is  a  school  not  the  home  of  perfection.  They,  who  are 
nearest  the  goal,  know  best  how  far  they  are  yet  distant  from  it. 
The  following  reflections  are  suggested  by  this  subject. 

The  statesman,  zealous  for  the  good  of  his  country,  as  well  as 
the  thinker,  busied  with  the  higher  interests  of  mankind  in 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  89 

general,  must  both  acknowledge  in  the  difference  and  mutual 
wants  of  the  sexes,  in  their  union  by  marriage,  the  chief  source 
of  all  civilization,  the  ground-pillar  of  all  domestic,  social  and 
political  well-being.  Far  be  it  from  us  to  oppose  merely  natural 
impulses  to  purity  of  heart,  endeavors  after  improvement, 
struggles  for  self-dominion ;  nay  rather,  marriage  requires  and 
makes  all  these  the  more  easy.  What  victories  over  ease  and 
self,  what  offerings  of  renunciation  do  not  our  duties  to  hus- 
bands, wives  and  parents  demand?  They  are  only  the  purer 
and  nobler,  because  they  spring  from  love,  not  compulsion. 
Still  more — it  is  proved  by  all  experience,  that  just  in  propor- 
tion as  the  marriage  tie  is  worthily  apprehended  and  held  sacred, 
the  heart  is  at  the  same  time  expanded  with  love  for  all  men, 
and  the  sharing  of  common  joys  and  sorrows  in  our  own  families 
teaches  us  to  understand  and  share  those  of  others  also. 

Hence  Christianity  has  declared  marriage  to  be  pure  and  by 
no  means  placed  him,  who  feels  called  to  it  by  God  and  nature, 
below  another,  who  has  the  power  or  inclination  to  remain  in- 
dependent in  order  to  labor  for  the  good  of  his  brethren.  The 
latter  ought  to  be  highly  esteemed,  but  the  choice  left  free  to 
each  one  according  to  his  own  will,  or  necessity. 

This  is  not  the  place  to  quote  the  passages,  in  which  the 
Holy  Scriptures  speak  of  marriage,  even  in  the  case  of  preachers 
of  the  Gospel,  the  shepherds  of  the  congregation.  They  are 
too  numerous,  too  decided,  too  striking  for  any  one  to  over- 
throw or  weaken.  Laying  hold  of  these,  Zwingli  had  drawn  up 
the  papers  just  mentioned.  Ten  of  his  associates  signed  with 
him  the  one  addressed  to  the  Bishop.  Others  approved  of  the 
thing,  but  did  not  yet  venture  to  avow  it  openly.  The  con- 
cluding words  of  the  memorial  to  the  Confederates  will  here 
exhibit  the  character  of  the  author  in  the  clearest  light : 

"These  and  many  other  reasons,  derived  from  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  have  moved  us,  0  honorable  Lords,  to  petition  Your 

8* 


90  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Worships  in  regard  to  marriage,  whicli  we  design  to  enter  into, 
yea  to  make  known  several  among  us,  who  have  entered  into  it, 
that  Your  AVorships  may  not  be  adverse  thereto,  seeing  the 
great  scandal  thus  given  to  all  men ;  seeing  our  wounded  con- 
sciences, with  which  we  daily  attend  to  the  administration  of 
God's  Word  and  the  sacraments,  though  everywhere  our  con- 
tinual weakness  is  acknowledged  and  no  peace  is  left  to  us. 
Therefore  we  exhort  Your  Worships  as  our  Fathers  (for  we 
have  all  sprung  from  one  glorious  Confederacy,  and  are  yours 
and  of  yours  ) ;  by  God,  our  Creator,  who  made  us  all  of  one  clay, 
60  that  we  recognize  each  other  as  brethren;  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus  Christ,  which  he  shed  for  all  alike,  so  that  no  one  can 
claim  for  himself  more  than  another;  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  who 
is  God,  and  in  all  his  illuminations  and  inspirations  has  never 
forbidden  marriage  to  the  priesthood,  but  rather  enjoined  it: 
Take  pity  on  us  your  true  and  willing  servants,  so  that, 
though  it  be  not  sinful  for  us  before  God,  it  may  not  be  shame- 
ful for  us  before  men.  And  since  we  have  been  faithfully  de- 
voted to  your  honor  all  our  lives  long  at  home  and  abroad, 
grant  us  deliverance  from  this  disgrace  of  unchastity,  that  we 
may  lead  honorable  lives  among  you.  For  it  were  indeed  un- 
kind, if  they,  whose  honor  we  have  increased,  would  not  at 
once  place  us  in  an  honorable  position,  not  only  before  friends 
and  associates,  but  strangers  also.  Not  in  one  hour  of  calamity 
onljj,  have  we  shared  love  and  sorrow  with  you,  and  ever  ad- 
hered to  you  as  good,  honest  people.  We  have  not  been 
prompted  to  bring  this  before  Your  Worships  by  a  spirit  of 
wantonness,  but  by  a  desire  after  pious,  conjugal  purity.  For 
had  it  been  by  wanton  desires,  these  might  have  been  better 
gratified  by  having  no  wives.  We  also  know  well  that  troubles, 
c-ares  and  labors  attend  the  married  estate.  We  know  well  how 
very  easily  we  can,  any  day,  abandon  the  women  with  whom 
we  have  taken  up.     Therefore  it  has  not  been  suggested  by 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  91 

wanton  desires,  but  by^, shame  and  love  for  tbe  souls,  committed 
to  oui'  care,  that  they  do  not  become  eternally  polluted.  The 
greater  part  of  us  have  worn  out  our  children'.^  shoes,  and  are 
nearer  40  than  30  years  of  age.  You  should  not  listen  to  those 
who  may  cry  out  and  cast  up  unjustly  many  things  against  us 
on  the  other  side.  '  How  dare  they  marry  ?  Have  they  not 
taken  an  oath  of  chastity  ? '  Hear  this,  gracious  Lords !  No 
one  has  promised  chastity  in  other  words  than  those  I  will  now 
write.  The  Bishop,  when  about  to  consecrate  a  priest,  asks  if 
he  will  remain  pure;  the  candidate  answers:  ^Yes,  as  far  as 
human  frailty  can  bear  and  suffer. '  See,  gracious  Lords !  with 
this  condition  have  we  sworn  and  not  otherwise.  This  we  can 
prove  by  the  Lord  Bishop  himself,  but  there  is  no  need  of  it. 
No  one,  we  hope,  will  deny  it.  Since  now,  neither  oath  nor 
promise  binds  us,  and  St.  Paul  speaks  as  above  quoted,  suffer 
yourselves  to  be  moved  by  this  public  confession,  which  we 
make  before  you,  for,  were  not  the  desire  of  honor  so  great,  we 
would  not  have  uncovered  our  shame. " 

Whatever  may  be  our  opinion  of  this  affair,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  Zwingli  did  not  wish  to  appear  better  than  he  really 
was.  Nothing  was  more  foreign  to  him  all  his  life  long  than 
hypocrisy.  For  this  we  ought  not  to  honor  him,  but  the  Lord 
and  blaster,  whose  word  he  proclaimed.  Wholly  unconcerned 
about  the  reproach  it  might  occasion,  the  author  took  the 
position  we  have  represented.  A  noble  spirit  was  never  yet 
injured  by  candor;  but  hypocrisy  has  ruined  millions  weaker. 
Truth  no  less  than  love  is  a  fundamental  requirement  of  the 
Gospel. 

The  astonishment,  to  which  this  step  gave  rise  on  all  sides, 
can  readily  be  imagined.  It  was  so  much  the  greater,  because 
Zwingli  had  purposely  provided  for  a  wider  circulation  of  the 
Latin  and  G-erman  memorials,  and  sent  copies  of  them  to  his 
friends  for  gratuitous  distribution.     Neither  from  the  Bishop 


92  LIFE    or    ZWINGLI. 

nor  the  govemments  did  he  receive  any  answer.  The  decision 
in  the  department  of  Zurich  was  veiy  decided  and  of  the  most 
favorable  character  as  might  be  expected.  From  Luzern,  My- 
conius  wrote  to  him  :  "  Only  a  few  give  their  approval  to  your 
petitions.  Many  express  neither  praise  nor  blame.  They  say : 
'  You  attempt  a  thing  you  can  never  carry  out.  The  Bishop, 
yea  the  Pope  cannot  grant  your  request.  Only  a  Council  can 
do  it. '  The  priests  are  dissatisfied.  How  the  people  think,  I 
do  not  know.  This  much  only  I  can  see,  that  they  neither 
know,  nor  wish  to  know  anything  about  the  Gospel.  The  de- 
mon of  war  has  laid  hold  of  them.  They  are  blind  to  all  that 
is  higher. "  The  prebendar)^  Botzheim  of  Constance  informed 
Vadianus  that  there  was  a  powerful  movement  among  the 
people.  The  canon  Kilchmeier  at  Luzern,  and  Trachsel,  pastor 
at  Art,  who  had  signed  with  Zwingli,  as  well  as  John  Zimmer- 
man of  Luzern  and  the  assistant  Bernhardin  of  Cham  put  their 
lives  in  jeopardy  by  betrothing  themselves,  and  were  compelled 
to  prepare  for  flight.  Even  in  Zurich,  though  individuals  gave 
Zwingli  a  fiLrm  support,  there  was  yet  a  wide  gulf  between  ap- 
proval and  simple  permission  of  public  marriage  by  the 
authorities. 

Just  then  the  Government  of  Zurich  was  obliged  to  be  par- 
ticularly prudent  in  its  relations  to  the  other  Confederates.  An 
immediate  result  of  this  step  of  Zwingli  was,  that  ecclesiastical 
innovations  were  for  the  first  time  discussed  at  the  diet,  in  the 
summer  of  the  year  1522.  Urban  Weiss,  pastor  at  Fislispach, 
in  the  bailiwick  of  Baden,  though  a  member  of  the  Zurich 
chapter,  as  he  returned  from  a  meeting  of  his  associates,  de- 
clared from  the  pulpit,  by  their  unanimous  resolution,  that 
henceforth  nothing  should  be  preached,  except  it  could  be 
proven  by  the  Holy  Scriptures — hence,  that  the  saints  ought 
to  be  no  longer  invoked,  that  the  marriage  of  priests  was  in  no 
wise  contrary  to  the  commandments  of  God,  and  as  soon  aa  it 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  93 

was  approved,  (and  he  hoped  it  would  be  shortly),  he  intended 
to  take  a  wife  himself.  The  Bishop  complained  of  him  to 
his  superiors  at  the  diet,  and  new  indignation  broke  loose 
in  their  midst.  The  pastor  would  have  been  led  off  immediate- 
ly to  prison,  had  not  several  of  the  clergy  in  connection  with 
the  congregation  prevented  it  by  hea^'y  bail.  But,  on  their 
return  home  the  deputies  found  the  petition  of  Zwingli,  and 
this  made  the  prospects  of  the  pastor  rather  worse,  so  that  at 
the  next  sitting  of  the  diet,  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  it  was 
actually  resolved  to  send  him  to  Constance. 

But  the  Confederates  gave  matter  for  serious  thought  to  the 
Council  of  Zurich  not  by  this  act  alone.  In  spite  of  every  re- 
fusal of  the  French  alliance,  in  spite  of  all  the  vigilance  of  the 
authorities,  there  were  still  seventeen  captains  in  that  service, 
who  succeeded  by  cunning  arts  in  enticing  to  themselves 
several  troops  of  inveterate  deserters  and  disobedient  youth, 
partly  citizens  of  Zurich  and  partly  of  other  places,  and  leading 
them  to  the  army,  for  which  so  severe  a  chastisement  was  kept 
in  store  at  Biocca.  Justly  indignant,  the  Council  ordered  all 
its  officers  to  bring  these  seducers  captive  to  Zurich,  whenever 
they  would  again  enter  the  canton;  only  if  they  came  of  their 
own  accord,  to  answer  for  their  deeds,  a  safe  conduct  should  be 
promised  to  them.  The  Confederates  declared  this  proceeding 
to  be  a  violation  of  the  compact.  Zurich  appealed  to  the  fourth 
article  of  the  treaty  of  Stanz,  which  was  certainly  in  her  favor. 
But  the  exasperation  increased  the  more.  It  rose  to  a  still 
higher  pitch,  when  Zwingli  took  occasion  from  the  defeat  at 
Biocca  to  address  a  written  exhortation  '^  to  the  oldest  Confed- 
erates at  Schwyz,  to  beware  of  foreign  lords  and  to  get  rid  of 
them. "  He  counted  on  the  aid  of  his  friends  there  at  Ein- 
siedeln,  and  the  clerk  of  the  court,  Balthasar  Staffer,  was  his 
devoted  adherent,  having  at  an  earlier  period  received  assistance 
from  him  during  a  season  of  trial  in  his  family.     With  a  per- 


94  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

ception  at  once  intuitive  and  full  of  power  he  contrasts  in  this 
letter  the  strength  of  even  a  small  nation,  that  trusts  in  God 
and  a  good  conscience,  with  the  windy  boasts  of  the  reigning  cor- 
ruption. ''Our  ancestors" — says  he — "overcame  their  ene- 
mies and  established  their  liberty,  by  no  other  power,  than  that 
of  God.  For  this  end  they  never  slew  Christian  people  for 
pay,  but  fought  for  freedom  alone,  that  their  persons,  lives,  wo- 
men, children  might  not  be  so  painfully  subject  to  a  licentious 
nobility.  Therefore  has  God  multiplied  to  them  on  all  sides 
victory,  honor  and  fortune,  so  surel}^,  that  no  lord  has  ever 
conquered  them,  though  never  so  strong;  which,  without  doubt, 
is  not  to  be  attributed  to  human  ability,  but  to  the  power  and 
grace  of  God.  Yea,  when  they  defended  their  fatherland  and 
freedom  at  Morgarten,  Sempach  and  Naefels,  where  three  hund- 
red and  fifty  men  attacked  fifteen  thousand  for  the  twelfth  time 
in  one  day  and  at  last  beat  them,  among  whom  ye  good  people 
of  Schwyz  had  thirty,  and  in  many  other  places,  when  they 
went  to  battle  and  returned  home  always  with  joy  and  honor, 
then  they  rested  in  peace,  stained  by  no  disgrace.  But  now, 
since  we  are  lifted  up  in  our  own  conceit,  and  think  ourselves 
wise;  since  we  have  become  filled  with  pride  and  boasting, 
though  it  is  nothing  but  air;  how  should  we  escape  not  having 
shame  and  loss  imputed  to  us  by  God,  though  we  have  spread 
our  names  so  far  with  such  vainglory:  Wc  have  done  this;  we 
will  do  this;  ice  can  do  this;  no  one  is  able  to  withstand  us; 
as  if  we  had  a  covenant  with  death ;  although  a  heavy  scoui'g- 
ing  and  punishment  passes  by,  may  it  not  yet  come  over  us; 
since  wc  place  our  hope  in  lying  and  tricks  and  are  protected 
thereby — just  as  if  we  were  iron  and  other  men  gourds;  just  as 
if  no  one  could  harm  us  like  the  heroes,  who  saved  themselves 
from  the  deluge  by  that  enormous  pile,  the  tower  of  Babel.  It 
is  very  certain  that  our  pride  is  not  His  gift.  He  waits  long, 
and  that  only,  for  us  to  do  better.     If  we  do  not,  then  it  will 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLT.  95 

be  done  unto  US  as  it  was  done  unto  Sodom  and  Gomorrali."  This 
letter  alone,  or  in  connection  with  other  reasons,  which  may 
have  brought  it  about,  actually  prevailed  at  Schwyz,  after  a 
stormy  meeting,  over  the  national  inclination  toward  the  French, 
and  it  was  resolved  for  the  next  25  years  to  reject  foreign  alli- 
ances and  pensions;  Nidwaldcn  also  joined  in  the  resolution. 
As  may  easily  be  imagined,  this  greatly  strengthened  the 
hatred  against  Zwingli.  ''  Thy  truly  Christian  summons  to  the 
people  of  Schwyz" — writes  Berthold  Haller  from  Bern — "is 
severely  condemned  among  us,  indeed  in  the  highest  degree." 
Embassies  were  sent  to  Schwyz  and  Nidwalden,  to  warn  them 
back,  and  one  also  to  Zurich  with  the  request,  that  if  they 
wished  always  to  keep  apart,  they  would  at  least  abstain  from 
influencing  other  members  of  the  Confederacy,  and  keep  careful 
watch  over  the  seditious  libels  that  issued  from  their  city.  The 
government  remained  firm  to  the  principles  laid  down  for  its 
guidance  in  political  afiairs.  Transgressors  of  the  prohibition 
against  desertion  and  pensions  were  punished  with  severity  and 
even  executed;  in  ecclesiastical  measures  it  was  at  variance 
and  wavering. 

Zwingli  felt  more  and  more,  that,  though  many  individuals 
on  all  sides  were  proud  of  his  course  and  defended  his  cause, 
he  yet  in  reality  stood  alone ;  that  many  mad-caps,  coming  out 
far  more  rudely  than  he,  did  him  more  injury  by  their  eccen- 
tricities than  they  gave  him  help;  that  his  true  friends,  unless 
he  continually  kept  them  in  breath,  informed  them  and  en- 
couraged them,  were  in  danger  of  yielding  to  faint-heartedness. 
Even  his  faithful  Myconius  wrote  to  him  in  such  a  moment : 
''What  canst  thou  do,  when  the  whole  world  speaks  against 
thee,  yea,  opposes  thee  with  all  its  powers  ?  "  When  some, 
who,  on  account  of  his  extraordinary  acquirements,  had  ranged 
themselves  among  his  most  prominent  supporters,  began  to 
draw  back,  Yadianus  became  cooler  and  Erasmus  put  into  his 


96  LIFE   OF    Z^YIXGLI 

scanty  and  formal  letters  expressions  of  ill-liumor.  IIow 
worthy  of  all  honor  did  the  man  stand  here,  who  did  not  sufler 
himself  to  be  bowed  by  all  this ! 

It  was  evident  to  him,  notwithstanding  that  his  work,  in 
order  to  have  stability,  needed  a  fii-mer  basis,  that  the  acknowl- 
edgment and  protection  of  the  government  of  the  canton  was 
indispensable  to  its  success.  But  the  authorities,  far  more 
than  Zwingli,  thought  themselves  bound  to  the  existing  church- 
order,  and  no  support  from  them  could  be  counted  on  against  the 
protest  of  the  bishop.  Thus  the  Reformer  had  first  to  come  to  a 
clear  understanding  with  them,  and  the  Bishop  himself  opened 
the  way.  He  had  carefully  abstained  from  instituting  an  examin- 
ation of  the  erroneous  doctrines  said  to  be  preached  in  Zurich, 
after  the  Council  had  invited  him  so  to  do,  and  only  exhorted 
the  government  in  general  terms  to  allow  no  changes  in  church 
matters  amongst  them;  on  the  contrary  he  addressed  a  pastoral 
letter  to  the  collective  clergy  of  his  diocese,  complaining  of 
manifold  heretical  teachings,  warning  against  them,  yea,  con- 
demning them,  as  well  as  a  special  admonition  at  the  same 
time  to  the  convent  of  canons  at  Zurich  not  to  suiTer  them  in 
their  midst.  Not  less  than  sixty  nine  points  of  complaint  and 
wishes  for  amendment  were  contained  in  it.  When  the  letter 
was  read  before  the  assembly  eveiy  eye  was  turned  toward 
Zwingli.  ^^You  find  yourselves" — said  he — "indebted  to 
me  for  all  these  accusations.  I  desire  that  they  be  placed  in 
my  hands,  so  that  I  can  answer. "  This  was  done,  and  now  he 
was  determined  to  battle  for  life  and  death  against  the  spiritual 
powers.  Hence  a  glance  at  their  present  condition  and  influ- 
ence becomes  necessary. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1520,  Pope  LeoX.  died,  and  on  the 
9th  of  January  the  Cardinals  had  elected  his  successor 
Adrian  YI.  But  he  did  not  come  to  Rome  before  the  29th  of 
August.    Till  then,  he  staid  in  Spain  as  vicegerent  of  Charles  Y ., 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  97 

who  was  also  king  of  that  country.  The  College  of  Cardinals, 
empowered  to  rule  in  the  interim,  had  pursued  the  policy  of 
the  deceased  Pope  in  regard  to  Swiss  affairs.  Ecclesiastical 
matters  were  kept  in  the  background,  and  Zurich,  although 
verging  toward  revolt,  was  treated  with  special  favor,  because 
she  not  only  continued  averse  to  the  French  alliance,  so  hated 
by  Rome,  but  besides  this,  faithful  to  former  treaties,  had 
dispatched  a  body  of  troops  for  the  immediate  protection  of  the 
Papal  government.  The  short  reign  of  Adrian  ( he  died  on 
the  13th  of  September,  1523  )  brought  about  no  change.  On 
the  contrary,  even  by  him,  who,  as  Grand  Inquisitor  in  Spain, 
had  seized  on  Luther's  collective  writings,  brilliant  offers  were 
made  to  Zwingli.  Franz  Zingg,  his  friend  and  the  same  time 
chaplain  of  the  Pope,  received  a  commission  to  treat  with  him, 
and  expressed  himself  thus  scornfully  against  Myconius :  "In 
Ptome  everything  will  be  granted  to  a  bold  preacher  except  the 
Papal  Chair."  During  the  following  year,  1523,  two  letters 
from  Adrian,  addressed  to  Mark  Roist  and  Zwingli,  were  de- 
livered by  the  legate  Ennius.  In  the  first  the  burgomaster 
was  assured,  that  the  Pope,  fully  aware  of  his  public  and  pri- 
vate services  in  behalf  of  the  Roman  See,  would  exhort  him  to 
persevere  in  his  friendly  disposition,  that  he  also  was  mindful 
of  it,  as  the  legate  would  detail  at  large.  In  the  second,  to 
Zwingli,  this  passage  occurs:  ^'Although  our  legate  is  enjoined 
to  conduct  our  affairs  with  your  nation  in  a  public  manner,  yet, 
because  we  have  a  certain  knowledge  of  thy  distinguished 
merits,  and  especially  love  and  prize  thy  loyalty,  and  also  place 
particular  confidence  in  thy  honesty,  we  have  commissioned  our 
chosen  Nuncio  to  hand  over  to  thee  separately  our  letter,  and 
bear  witness  to  our  most  favorable  intentions.  We  exhort  thee 
also,  reverend  and  faithful  in  the  Lord,  to  give  all  credit  to  it, 
and  with  the  same  disposition,  in  which  we  are  inclined  to  re- 
member thy  honor  and  thy  profit,  to  bestir  thyself  also  in  our 


nS  LIFE    OP    ZWINGLI. 

affairs  and'  tliose  of  the  Apostolic  See,  wherefore  tnou  wilt  be 
ghuldened  by  our  very  special  grace. " 

It  is  not  to  be  doubted  that  Adrian  had  been  informed  by 
his  legates  of  the  condition  of  the  church  in  Zurich;  still  vre 
may  bo  allowed  to  conjecture  at  least,  why  he  made  another  at- 
tempt ujDon  Zwingli.  Of  German  descent  and  himself  a  friend 
and  judge  of  German  science,  conscious  moreover  of  an  honest 
purpose,  he  might  perhaps  have  cherished  the  hope,  that  he 
would  be  better  able  to  exert  a  reconciling  influence  upon  the 
G  ermans  than  his  Italian  predecessor.  On  the  Saxon  Reformer, 
over  whom  ban  and  outlawry  had  already  been  pronounced, 
such  a  thing  was  no  longer  possible;  but  the  Switzer  was  un- 
touched as  yet.  Still  the  Pope  was  greatly  mistaken  in  regard 
to  him.  It  was  not  the  person  but  the  court,  which  Zwingli 
would  avoid.  Let  us  hear  what  he  has  to  say  in  regard  to  the 
relation  in  which  he  stood  to  the  latter,  as  it  appears  in  the 
'  Explanation  of  the  Final  Discourse : ' 

'Tor  three  whole  years  now  I  have  preached  the  Gospel  in 
Zurich  with  earnestness,  for  which  the  Papal  Cardinals,  Bishops 
and  Legates,  whilst  the  city  has  not  been  well  spoken  of,  have 
often  sought  to  blind  me  by  their  friendship,  prayers,  threats, 
and  promises  of  large  gifts  and  benefices;  these  I  did  not 
wholly  reject,  having  accepted  a  pension  of  50  florins,  which 
they  paid  me  yearly  (indeed  they  would  have  given  me  100, 
but  I  would  not  be  enticed ) ;  I  had  declined  it  in  the  year 
1517,  though  they  would  not  stop  it  till  three  years  after  in 
1520,  when  I  refused  it  in  my  own  hand  writing.  (I  acknowL 
edge  my  sin  before  God  and  all  men;  for  prior  to  1516  I  ad- 
hered too  closely  to  the  authority  of  the  Pope,  and  deemed  it 
becoming  to  receive  money  from  him,  although  I  always  gave 
the  Roman  envoys  to  understand  in  plain  language,  when  they 
exhorted  me  not  to  preach  anything  against  the  Pope :  they 
should  not  at  all  expect  rae  to  suppress  a  siDglp  word  of  the 


LrrE   OF   ZVv^INGLI.  99 

tinith  for  the  sake  of  money,  on  wliich  account  they  might 
either  take  it  back  or  not,  as  it  pleased  them).  When  now  I 
had  laid  down  the  pension,  they  saw  well  I  would  have  noth- 
ing more  to  do  with  them,  and  then  they  made  public  my  refusal 
and  receipt,  both  of  which  stood  iu  one  letter,  through  a  spiritual 
father,  a  preacher-monk,  for  the  purpose  of  diiving  me  oif  from 
Zurich  by  it.  But  in  this  they  failed,  because  the  honorable 
Council  knew  well  that  I  had  not  spared  the  Pope  in  my  teach- 
ings; that  I  had  not  been  wrought  upon  by  money;  that  I  had 
not  aided  them  in  their  plans,  and  now  for  the  second  time  re- 
fused a  pension;  and  also,  since  it  was  the  doctrine  of  former 
ages,  that  I  could  not  be  convicted  of  a  violation  of  honor  or 
my  oath.  And  thus  the  above-named  honorable  Council  has 
acknowledged  my  innocence. — So  each  and  every  one  may  see, 
if  I  had  wished  to  enrich  myself  with  the  gold  of  foreign  lords, 
I  would  not  have  refused  the  pension  of  the  Pope,  for  to  receive 
it  from  him  would  have  been  disgraceful  in  the  least  degree  to 
one  in  clerical  orders.  But  I  declare  it  before  the  Judge  of 
all  men,  God,  that  I  have  never  received  pension  or  wages 
from  prince  or  lord,  or  been  bribed  in  any  way.  And  what  I 
do  to-day  I  do  alone,  because  my  office  demands  it  of  me.  I 
pray  also  that  it  may  aid  in  checking  the  evil.  For  I  would 
be  ever  a  murderer  in  the  eyes  of  pious  people,  if  I  did  not 
continue  to  rebuke  it  severely.  I  am  ready  also  at  all  times  to 
give  answer  to  all  men  for  my  teachings,  my  writings  and  my 
actions,  and  dare  take  it  on  my  soul,  that  hereafter  I  will  use  all 
diligence  to  bring  the  word  of  God  clearly  before  all  men,  yet 
not  I  will  do  it,  but  God,  and  therefore  it  deeply  concerns  me 
that  our  glorious  Confederacy  may  remain  in  existence.  Al- 
though every  one  may  think  of  me,  as  seems  good  to  him,  yet 
I  am  conscious  of  innocence  in  regard  to  my  teaching  and 
actions  in  that  whereof  my  enemies  accuse  me.  IMoreover, 
though  I  exceed  many  men  in  other  faults,  yet  shall  they  not 


100  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

injure  the  triitli  of  God  and  a  pious  government.  Let  each  for 
God's  sake  regard  in  the  best  light  luy  simple  explanation  of 
the  aftair  of  the  foreign  lords,  which  I  might  have  presented 
with  far  greater  lustre  to  my  reputation,  had  I  desired  it.  For, 
a  few  dcii/s  back,  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Pope  and  might}/ 
verbal  commands,  vdiich  I  hare  answered  by  God's  grrce  in  a 
Christian  manner,  without  being  moved;  since  I  do  not  doubt, 
I  would  become  greater  than  any  other  man,  if  the  poverty  of 
Christ  were  not  dearer  to  me  than  the  splendor  of  the  Papists. 
Let  every  one  regard  it  in  the  best  light.  Since  I  must  look 
to  the  wants  of  many,  who  have  claims  on  me  elsewhere,  I 
ought  not  to  conceal  my  innocence  of  the  thing  in  my  own 
spirit,  but  reply,  after  the  example  of  Paul,  in  a  becoming  man- 
ner; for  the  enemies  of  Christ  often  injure  his  doctrine  through 
my  name,  against  which  they  utter  falsehood;  whom  I  have 
followed  now  and  to  whom,  as  I  hope,  done  no  injustice/' 

With  this  we  have  enough  about  Zwingli's  relation  to  the 
Papal  See.  That  he  had  broken  with  it  decidedly  will  he  in- 
ferred from  what  has  been  quoted.  By  the  government  also 
Rome  was  not  particularly  feared.  It  seemed  to  set  more  value 
on  its  connection  with  the  Bishop,  which  leads  us  now  to  take 
a  glance  at  affairs  in  Constance. 

Since  the  3'ear  1496  the  episcopal  chair  in  that  place  was 
occupied  by  Hugo  of  Hohenlandenberg.  History  has  a  great 
deal  to  tell  about  his  legations  in  the  name  of  the  Emperor,  his 
treaties  with  tlie  Confederates,  his  synodal  constitutions,  his 
ordinances  and  his  pastoral  letters.  He  was,  particularly  in 
his  old  age,  an  active,  grasping  man,  restlessly  employed  in  the 
maintenance  and  extension  of  his  cathedral  chapter,  especially 
of  its  revenues.  Scandalous  facts  could  be  adduced  to  prove 
the  latter.  The  knowledge  of  his  character  made  the  Confed- 
erate governments  shy  of  him,  so  that  he  was  not  always  suc- 
cessful in  his  negotiations  with  them.     In   regard  to  scientific 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  101 

culture  he  needed  foreign  support,  and  when  with  the  begin- 
ning of  reform  circumstances  became  more  difficult,  he  was 
forced  to  a  greater  dependence  on  his  general-vicar. 

In  the  latter,  who  was  at  an  earlier  period  Zwingli's  friend, 
we  now  find  his  most  bitter  and  decided  enemy.  John  Hei- 
gerlin,  son  of  a  smith  in  the  village  of  Leutkirch,  had,  accord- 
ing to  the  prevailing  custom,  assumed  the  Latin  name  of  Faber 
(Smith).  To  the  clerical  estate,  to  which  he  devoted  himself, 
after  completing  his  studies  in  Vienna,  he  brought  talent  of  no 
common  order,  and  ambition  to  turn  it  to  the  best  account. 
First  a  popular  preacher  in  Linden,  and  esteemed  likewise  as 
an  author,  he  afterwards  accepted  a  call  from  the  Bishop  of  Con- 
stance, who,  as  well  as  the  Diocesan  of  Basle,  wished  to  have 
him  in  his  service.  At  the  same  time  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
the  Common  Law  was  conferred  on  him  by  the  University  of 
Freiburg.  With  all  the  better  minds  of  the  age  he  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  awakening  of  science,  which  immediately 
preceded  the  Reformation.  He  it  was,  who  chiefly  prevailed 
on  the  Bishop  to  declare  against  the  wretched  trade  in  indul- 
gences, and  encouraged  Zwingli  in  his  battle  against  it.  Every 
improvement  was  altogether  right  in  his  eyes,  if  it  only  pro- 
ceeded from  the  priesthood ;  every  light,  so  long  as  it  remained 
under  its  patronage.  But  nothing  is  more  foreign  to  the  spirit  of 
caste  than  the  fundamental  idea  of  the  Gospel,  and  between  Chris- 
tianity as  represented  by  it  and  priestdom  (by  no  means  to  be 
confounded  with  churchdom)  the  antagonism  is  irreconcilable. 
Hence  all  priestdom  is  in  absolute  need  of  supplements  to  the 
Gospel ;  it  must  have  tradition ;  it  cannot  give  it  up  without 
self-destruction.  This  is  not  the  place  to  pursue  this  observa- 
tion further;  but  it  could  not  be  wholly  overlooked,  because 
thus  only  are  we  able  to  account  for  the  sudden  change  of  feel- 
ing in  a  man  liberal  in  other  respects.  As  late  as  May  1521, 
he  had  ridiculed  Doctor  Eck,  Luther's  opponent,  and  accused 

9* 


102  LIFE    OF    ZWINC.LI. 

him  of  traveling  to  Rome  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Pope  against 
Luther,  and  yet  at  the  end  of  the  very  same  year,  he  himself 
took  the  very  same  road.  The  extensive  circulation  of  Luther's 
writings  had  stirred  him  up,  because  by  this  means  religious 
questions  were  dragged  down  to  the  circle  of  the  people,  skill- 
ful and  unskillful  speakers  arose  among  them,  individual  prin- 
ces and  governments  sought  to  extricate  themselves  from  the 
fetters  of  the  spiritual  power,  and  against  all  ordinances  of  the 
church,  which  were  not  clearly  warranted  by  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, a  growing  indifference  prevailed.  He  himself  also  wrote 
from  Rome  against  Luther.  "You  cunningly  strive" — he  says 
in  his  book — ''  to  subject  the  spiritual  to  the  worldly,  but  the  Lord 
will  not  suffer  his  anointed  (Christos  suos)  to  go  to  the  ground." 
He  came  back  to  Constance  completel}^  transformed,  and  his 
influence  was  very  soon  observable  here. 

In  the  abduction  of  the  pastor  of  Fislispach  he  had  a  hand, 
and  the  pastoral  letter  of  the  Bishop,  to  which  we  have  alluded, 
as  well  as  the  address  to  the  Zurich  chapter  of  canons  had,  ac- 
cording to  the  universal  opinion,  proceeded  from  him.  Wo 
saw  that  Zwingli  put  off  answering  the  letter.  He  took  some 
time  for  it.  But  then  an  ample  vindication  appeared.  "  May 
your  Highness,  illustrious  Chief  Shepherd"- — he  thus  begins — 
'^pardon,  if  I  trouble  you  with  this  paper  in  your  manifold 
labors.  The  Lord  procure  it  a  hearing !  For  six  years  I  have 
preached  the  Gospel,  and  am  now  represented  to  thee  not  as  a 
dutiful  guardian,  but  as  a  robber  and  destroyer  in  the  sheep-fold. 
]]y  their  continual,  unwearied  outcries  the}'  have  prevailed  on 
you  to  send  an  admonition,  as  illiterate  as  it  is  unbecoming,  to 
the  chapter  of  our  convent.  Thou  wouldst  have  done  nothing 
of  the  kind  of  thine  accord;  thou  couidst  not  have  written,  of 
t]i3"sclf,  anything  so  vain  and  boasting;  thou  wouldst  also  have 
mrido  known  thy  thoughts  to  us  in  the  German  language. 
Therefore  I  send  thee  this  epistle  called  Archctdes,  because  I 


LIFE    or    ZWINGLI.  103 

hope  it  is  the  beginning  and  end  of  my  quarrel  with  thy  coun- 
sellors."  After  this  somewhat  diffuse  introduction  follow- the 
sixtj^-uine  points  of  complaint,  again  printed,  and  an  answer 
appended  to  each  one  separately.  As  he  proceeds  in  the  letter 
we  see  his  courage  and  assurance  increase;  the  style  becomes 
.bolder,  his  judgment  more  decided,  and  the  interwoven  sallies 
of  wit  more  cutting,  till  here  again  in  a  feeling  of  triumph,  and 
prompted  by  the  lugubrious  tone  of  the  last  point  of  the  Bishop, 
he  gives  a  mock-review  of  it  somewhat  in  the  manner  of  the 
litany  : 

That  we  may  remain  in  the  unity  of  our  Holy  Mother,  the 
Church; — for  this  we  beseech  thee,  0  Lord,  hear  us. 

That  we  may  obey  our  Superiors,  i.  e.  the  pious  govern- 
ments ; — for  this  we  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 

That  Thou  wilt  teach  the  false  bishops  humility  enough  not 
to  think  themselves  supreme  lords  but  co-pastors,  according  to 
the  word  of  Peter;  for  this  we  beseech  Thee. 

That  Thou  wilt  enlighten  them  with  thy  light,  first  to  ac- 
knowledge Thy  true  Church  itself; — for  this  we  beseech  Thee, 
hear  us. 

That  Thou  wilt  open  for  them  the  fountains  of  living  water; 
— for  this  we  beseech  Thee,  hear  us. 

From  the  troubled  fountains,  which  they  have  dug,  out  of 
which  no  wholesome  water  flows; — set  us  free,  0  Lord. 

From  the  intolerable  burdens,  which  they  have  piled  upon 
the  shoulders  of  christians ; — deliver  us,  0  Lord. 

Command  them  to  bear  and  to  do  what  they  require  from 
others. 

And  if  they  cannot  be  brought  by  other  means  to  make  Thy 
yoke  easy  to  us  and  Thy  burden  light — force  them  to  it, 
O  Lord. 

From  his  continued  good-will  toward  Erasmus,  Zwingli  had 
sent  him  a  copy  of  this  production.     But  the  tone  of  it  did  not 


104  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

please  the  elder  and  more  considerate  friend,  althougli  he  him- 
self in  former  years  had  made  sparing  use  neither  of  ridicule 
nor  censure.  "1  adjure  thee" — he  wrote — ''by  the  honor  of 
the  Gospel,  to  which,  as  I  know,  thou  hast  consecrated  thy 
whole  heart,  as  we  are  all  bound  to  do,  that  thou  wilt  treat 
serious  things  in  a  serious  manner,  and  not  forget  evangelical 
modesty  and  prudence.  Take  counsel  firet  from  thy  learned 
friends,  before  thou  niakest  anything  public.  I  fear  thy  apology 
will  bring  thee  into  great  danger  and  be  prejudicial  to  the 
Gospel."  Though  Zwingli  felt  the  warning  and  returned 
thanks,  it  was  not  able  to  change  his  mind.  For  directly  after 
the  appearance  of  the  Latin  Airhcldcs  he  lent  a  helping  hand 
in  the  publication  of  an  address  designed  for  the  people,  which 
was  still  more  rough  in  its  language.  It  consisted  of  comments 
on  the  above-quoted  pastoral  letter  of  the  Bishop,  and  was  edited 
anonymously  and  scattered  everywhere  by  the  Franciscan,  Se- 
bastian Meier  of  Bern,  and  his  friends.  A  single  passage,  and 
that  not  one  of  the  most  severe,  may  serve  to  show  its  spirit : 

^'Dost  thou  see,  dear  Christian,  where  the  shoe  pinches  them  ? 
They  complain  that  Paul  is  preached.  He  pictures  them  so 
near  to  the  life,  and  points  out  the  office  of  the  true  bishop. 
"When  we  preach  up  this,  then  a  sheep  can  see,  that  those 
horned  idols  arc  not  bishops  but  carnival-spectres,  and  such  as 
the  children  make  on  St.  Glaus'  day.  Yv'ould  to  God  they 
were  as  harmless  !  Why  has  it  not  vexed  them  that  Aristotle, 
Cicero,  fables,  examples,  Scotus,  Thomas  and  silly  stories  are 
preached?  I  will  tell  thee.  It  does  not  injure  them  in  their 
pomp.  But  Paul,  who  is  now  by  common  consent  preached  in 
many  places,  is  consistent  with  himself,  and  pierces  them  in 
their  princely  splendor,  voluptuous  wantonness,  and  insatiable 
avarice.  Hence  they  complain.  Dear  j'ounkcrs,  because  you 
deal  thus  with  facts  and  Paul  teaches  the  contrary,  what  shape 
will  you  take,  if  we  preach  St.  Peter?     He  snatches  off  your 


LIFK    OF    ZWINGLI.  105 

hoods  and  sliows  as  well  as  St.  Paul  what  hornea  cattle  you 
arc. '' 

It  is  easy  to  see  that  writings  like  these  must  have  made  the 
breach  incurable,  and  we  durst  suppose,  that  Zwingli  himself 
perceived  the  possibility  of  it,  and  in  such  an  event  was  clear 
in  his  resolves.  The  end  of  the  subordinate  relation  of  Zurich 
to  the  Bishop,  as  well  as  the  beginning  of  a  changed  order,  was 
closely  connected  with  the  Archetelcs.  For  the  origin  and 
founding  of  this  new  church-government  we  pass  on  to  the  fol- 
lowing chapter. 


CHAPTER     THIRD 


RELIGIOUS     CONFERENCE    IN    ZURICH.        THE     GOVERNMENT    TAKES    THE 

TLACE  OF  THE  BISHOP  FOR  THE  PROTECTION  AND  SUPERINTENDENCE 

OF  THE  NATIONAL  CHURCH. 


HE  breach,  between  the  govern- 
ment of  Zurich  and  those,  who,  np 
to  this  time,  stood  at  the  head  of 
ecclesiastical  affairs,  was  as  yet  by 
no  means  so  decided  as  in  the  case 
of  Zwingli.  He  doubtless  wished 
it  might  become  so.     Public  con- 

P^^s--^^  ferences  on  religious  subjects   had   already   taken 
^  '''  '^"^  place  in  Germany,  and  Zwingli  himself  had  con- 
;■  .  ducted  such  an  one,  held  between  him  and  Francis 

Lambert,  a  Franciscan  monk,  to  a  triumphant  issue, 
f  i  though  only  before  a  narrow  circle  and  in  the  Latin 

laneruagre.      But    now    he    determined    to   venture 
^4|j,l^;n?r  I  battle  with  his 


enemies 
theologians,  and  compel  them  to  an  open  acknowl- 
ed2;ement  that  his  doctrine  was  in  conformity  with  Scripture. 
Yf  ith  this  idea  he  first  of  all  made  his  hearers  familiar  in  sev- 
eral sermons.  Then,  sure  of  the  approval  of  his  design  by  the 
majority,  he  turned  to  the  Great  Council  with  the  prayer,  that, 
in  the  deliberate  and  entire  neglect  to  act  on  the  part  of  the 
Bishop,  they  would  appoint  such  a  public  convocation.     Tiiis 


before  all  the  clergy  and 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  107 

gave  rise  to  a  lively  and  earnest  debate.  It  could  not  escape 
the  older  statesmen  how  readily  results,  not  to  be  foreseen,  flow 
from  a  violation  of  forms,  whilst  others,  looking  at  events  in 
Germany,  the  humor  of  the  people,  and  the  growing  in  differ- 
ence toward  the  ordinances  of  ecclesiastical  courts,  trembled  less 
at  the  approaching  transformation;  nay,  the  boldest  and  most 
decided  ardently  wished  it.  In  fact,  the  resolution  to  grant 
Zwingli's  petition  was  at  last  carried.  Besides,  the  Council 
could  justify  itself  with  the  Bishop  by  his  own  inactivity,  by 
his  refusal  of  the  just  prayer  to  institute  a  synod  or  convocation 
of  learned  men  fur  the  examination  of  the  Reformer's  doctrine. 
Thus  he  had  only  himself  to  blame,  if  part  of  the  power,  which 
he  might  yet  have  been  able  to  secure,  was  already  taken  from 
him  by  the  public  proclamation  of  Zurich,  dated  January  3d, 
1523.  The  substance  of  this  paper  is  contained  in  the  follow- 
ing extract : 

"We,  the  burgomaster  and  Small  and  Great  Councils  of 
the  city  of  Zurich,  to  all  the  clergy  in  our  diocese  our  salu- 
tation and  favorable  regard.  Discord  and  dissension  have 
sprung  up  among  us  between  the  preachers.  Some  believe  they 
have  proclaimed  the  Gospel  faithfully  and  fully;  on  the  con- 
trary others  affirm  that  these  same  persons  sow  error,  mislead 
their  hearers,  and  are  heretics,  whilst  they  on  their  part  at  all 
times  and  to  every  one  declare  themselves  ready  to  be  judged 
by  God's  Word.  Therefore  with  the  best  intentions  and  for 
the  sake  of  God's  honor,  peace  and  Christian  unity,  it  is  our 
will  that  ye  ministers,  pastors  and  preachers,  all  in  general  and 
each  in  particular,  or  even  other  priests,  who  may  have  a  mind 
to  speak,  to  inveigh  against  or  else  to  instruct  the  opposite 
party,  appear  before  us  on  the  day  succeeding  Emperor  Charles' 
day  at  early  council-time  at  our  council-house,  and  when  ye  dis- 
pute, to  do  it  with  appeal  to  the  genuine  Scripture  in  the  Ger- 
man tongue  and  language.     With  all  diligence  will  we,  with 


108  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

the  aid  of  several  learned  men,  note  down,  whether  it  seems 
good  to  us,  and,  if  it  accord  with  the  Holy  Scripture,  send 
each  one  home  with  the  command  to  go  on  or  leave  off;  so  that 
every  one  may  not  preach  from  the  pulpit  without  warrant,  only 
what  seems  good  to  him.  We  will  also  point  out  this  to  our 
gracious  Lord  of  Constance,  so  that  your  Grace  or  your  deputies, 
as  you  wish,  may  be  there  also.  But  if  any  one  should  be  so 
perverse  as  not  to  produce  the  real  Divine  Scripture,  we  will 
call  him  to  account — of  whom  we  would  rather  be  rid.  We 
hope  God  will  illumine  us  with  the  light  of  his  truth,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  walk  as  children  of  the  light." 

Thus  it  was  no  longer  the  Bishop,  nor  those,  who  were 
spiritual  lords  heretofore,  nor  even  the  Pope,  who  should  de- 
clare whether  the  doctrine  preached  in  Zurich  was  that  of  the 
church.  Whether  it  agreed  with  the  Holy  Scripture,  this  alone 
should  be  proven,  and  whether  Zwingli  or  his  opponents  had 
justified  themselves  as  its  true  interpreters,  on  that  would  the 
government  decide — a  view  indeed  directly  oi)posed  to  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  stand-point.  It  was  a  real  violation  of  rule  in  the 
Bishop  not  to  lay  an  interdiction,  and,  if  Zurich  still  persevered, 
to  break  off  all  ecclesiastical  intercourse  with  her.  But  reve- 
nues were  due  in  the  Zurich  district;  worldly  relations  existed 
with  its  government;  these  appeared  to  him  to  require  indul- 
gence. Besides,  the  number  of  faithful  adherents  was  still 
considerable.  Should  they  be  abandoned  ?  Might  not  affairs 
in  some  unexpected  way  take  a  more  favorable  turn  ?  Could 
not  the  envoys  succeed  in  one  thing,  if  not  to  prevent  a  com- 
plete revolt,  at  least  to  postpone  it?  Hence  the  resolution  of 
the  Bishop  to  send  notwithstanding  an  embassy  to  Zurich. 
This  was  composed  of  John  Faber,  Fritz  von  Anwyl,  steward  of 
the  Bishop,  and  Doctor  Bergenhaus,  to  whom  was  yet  added 
Doctor  Martin  Blausch  of  Tuebingen. 

In  the  mean  time  Zwingli,  who  by  no  means  lost  sight  of  the 


LIFP;    OF   ZV/INGLI.  109 

fac^  that  the  government,  -^liicli  was  about  to  assume  tlie  place 
of  the  Bishop,  ought  to  show  itself  worthy  of  the  post  by  its 
actions  and  opinions,  began  more  earnestly  than  ever  to 
watch  over  the  improvement  and  maintenance  of  good  morals, 
and  with  unwearied  zeal  wove  into  his  sermons  to  the 
Councils  exhortations  to  this  effect.  These  were  not  in  vain. 
Ordinances  were  passed  for  the  better  control  of  the  taverns,  of 
the  young  people,  and  the  hordes  of  traveling  scholars;  singing- 
girls  were  banished  from  the  city,  and  even  four  members  of 
the  Small  Council,  who  lived  in  notorious  adultciy,  were  ex- 
cluded from  all  its  sessions  for  half  a  year,  in  order  to  reclaim 
them. 

But  now  Charles'  day  had  come,  and  universal  attention  was 
directed  to  the  <:r;ne  assembly  about  to  meet  on  the  next 
morning.  The  Council  had  sent  a  letter  of  invitation  to  the 
diet  held  at  Baden  on  the  first  day  of  the  year.  This  was 
simply  noticed  in  the  recess,  without  further  action,  because 
the  matter  was  thought  to  concern  Zurich  alone.  No  one  came, 
with  the  exception  of  Doctor  Sebastian  Hoffmeister  from  Schaff- 
hausen,  and  the  Franciscan  Sebastian  Meier  from  Bern;  the 
latter,  however,  of  his  own  accord,  without  public  commission. 
A  few  days  before,  Zwingli  had  compiled  and  written  down  in 
haste,  seventy-six  propositions,  which  contained  the  sum  of 
what  his  opponents  objected  to,  and  the  substance  of  his  doc- 
trines. He  concluded  this  small  paper  with  these  words: 
"Let  no  one  undertake  to  contend  here  with  sophistry  or 
trifles,  but  let  him  come  with  the  Scripture.  It  is  to  be  re- 
garded as  the  judge;  by  it  we  ma}'  find  the  truth;  or  rather  it 
has  thus  been  found,  as  I  hope  and  maintain." 

It  was  the  second  false  step  of  Faber,  that,  after  such  a  con- 
dition laid  down  by  Zwingli,  and  approved  by  the  Council,  he 
yet  came  to  Zurich,  or  did  not  from  the  first  emphatically  pro- 
test against  it.     The  very  practices  of  the   Eoman   Church, 

10 


110  LIFE    OF   Z  WING  LI. 

■which  were  most  conspicuous  and  vulnerable,  stood  in  such 
direct  contradiction  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  that 
he,  who  would  defend  them  from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  even 
with  the  greatest  skill,  was  already  beaten  beforehand.  Not 
only  Zwingli  and  the  more  thoroughly  instructed  of  his  asso- 
ciates were  convinced  of  this,  but,  taught  by  his  preaching,  the 
greater  part  of  those  present  also;  among  v/hom  were  a  numer- 
ous host  of  youth,  ready  for  the  combat,  who  had  zealously  read 
the  Holy  Scriptures  for  themselves.  In  their  varying  looks 
were  seen  expectation,  confidence,  and  contempt  of  their  en- 
emies. The  judicial  demeanor  of  the  Councils,  the  confused 
behavior  of  those,  who,  by  their  boasting  and  thoughtless 
speeches,  betrayed  their  ignorance,  the  excitement  among  the 
mass  of  the  people  gave  the  assembly  a  peculiar  expression. 
^'1  thought" — says  Faber  in  a  letter  describing  it — "I  had 
come  to  Picardy.  "* 

Meanwhile,  arming  himself  with  as  much  firmness  as  possible, 
he  and  his  co-deputies  took  the  places  assigned  them.  A  hund- 
red and  eighty  members  of  the  two  Councils  had  arrived.  Of 
the  public  teachers,  doctors,  canons  and  the  other  clergy  few 
were  wanting;  and  the  number  of  strangers  present  was  also 
considerable.  All  the  spaces  before  the  open  doors,  where  any- 
thino-  was  to  be  seen  or  heard,  were  filled  with  citizens  and  coun- 
try people.  In  a  vacant  circle,  reserved  in  the  middle,  sat 
Zwingli  alone  by  a  table,  on  which  lay  copies  of  the  Bible  in 
different  languages. 

The  burgomaster  Roist  began:  "Very  learned  and  worthy 
Lords,  hitherto  dissension  has  frequently  arisen  in  the  city  and 
canton  of  Zurich  in  regard  to  the  doctrines  of  our  preacher, 
Master  TJlric  Zwingli.  By  some  he  is  reviled  as  a  seducer  of 
the  people,  by  others  as  a  heretic.     The  disturbance  among  the 

*  A  French  province,  according  to  the  prevailing  opinion  in  former 
times,  a  strong  hold  of  sectarianism,  of  heresy  so-called. 


LIFE    OF    ZWIJi^GLI.  Ill 

priests  and  laity  increases,  and  every  day  complaints  are  laid 
before  my  fellow-councilors.  From  the  open  pulpit  Master 
Ulric  has  oflered  to  justify  his  doctrine,  if  it  be  granted  him  to 
hold  a  public  disputation  in  the  presence  of  all,  both  of  the 
clergy  and  the  laity.  We  have  permitted  him  to  do  this  in 
the  German  language  before  the  Great  Council.  "We  have 
summoned  thereto  all  the  people's  priests  and  pastors  of  our 
Canton,  and  entreated  also  the  Very  Reverend  Lord  and  Prince, 
the  Bishop  of  Constance.  We  thank  him  particularly  for  send- 
ing us  his  worthy  legation.  So,  to  whomsoever  it  is  displeasing 
or  doubtful,  what  Master  Ulric  has  uttered  in  the  pulpit  here 
at  Zurich;  whoever  may  be  able  to  show,  that  his  preaching 
and  doctrine  are  seditious  or  heretical ;  let  him  prove  his  error 
to  him  here  present  from  the  Divine  Scripture,  so  that  my  fel- 
low-councilors may  be  relieved  henceforth  of  the  daily  com- 
plaints about  disunion  and  discord,  with  which  they  are 
troubled  by  clergy  and  laity. '' 

The  steward  of  the  Bishop  now  rose  up.  "My  gracious 
Lord'' — said  he — "is  well  aware  that  at  present,  in  all  parts  of 
his  princely  Grace's  diocese,  strife  and  discord,  touching  doc- 
trines or  sermons  have  sprung  up,  and  since  he  never  has 
refused,  and  does  not  now  refuse,  to  show  himself  gracious, 
kind  and  willing,  in  all  that  promotes  peace  and  unity,  he  has 
sent  us  hither  as  his  ambassadors,  at  the  special  request  and 
information  of  an  honorable,  wise  Council  at  Zurich,  where  dis- 
union chiefly  reigns.  Having  listened  to  the  reasons  of  this 
discord,  we  are  to  give  them  the  best  advice  in  the  case;  noth- 
ing else  than  may  redound  to  the  welfare  of  an  honorable  Coun- 
cil at  Zurich,  as  well  as  an  estimable  priesthood.  Therefore  we 
are  willing,  for  the  sake  of  peace  and  unity,  to  aid  in  composing 
the  discord;  so  that  friendship  may  continue  among  a  worthy 
priesthood,  till  my  Lord,  together  with  his  theologians  and  pre- 
lates, has  further  considered  and  decided  in  regard  to  the  matter." 


112  LIFE    OIT    ZWINGLI. 

Thus  had  the  adroit  courtier  wisely  marked  out  the  only 
position  which  the  episcopal  embassy  could  maintain  with  honor. 
Affirming  simply  the  power  of  the  Church  to  judge  and  her 
duty  to  reconcile  those  at  variance,  they  ought  in  no  wise  to 
take  sides,  but  rather  join  with  the  government  as  umpire, 
and  at  all  hazards,  have  the  last  word  reserved  for  the  Bishop. 
IIow  much  hiiiuiiiation  would  not  Faber  have  been  spared,  if 
he  had  not  suffered  himself  to  be  enticed  away  from  this  stand- 
point by  Zwingii ! 

The  latter  now  took  occasion  to  say :  "  Of  old  has  God  made 
known  his  will  to  the  human  race.  Thus  speaks  the  revelation 
of  his  AVord.  In  and  of  itself  it  is  light  and  clear,  but  for 
many  years,  and  still  more  in  our  times,  it  has  become  so  dimmed 
and  obscured  by  the  additions  and  doctrines  of  men,  that  the 
greater  part  of  those,  who  now  call  themselves  Christians,  know 
less  of  nothing  than  of  the  Divine  will,  and  are  only  occupied 
with  a  worship  of  their  own  devising  and  a  fancied  holiness 
resting  on  outward  works.  Into  such  delusion  have  they  been 
misled  by  those,  who  ought  to  be  their  leaders,  whilst  the  truth 
lies  in  the  Word  of  Christ,  as  we  learn  it  from  his  Gospel  and 
the  writings  of  the  Apostles.  And  since  some  rise  up  to  pro- 
claim this  once  more,  they  are  not  regarded  as  Christians,  but  as 
con-upters  of  the  Church;  yea,  reviled  as  heretics,  of  which  I  also 
am  counted  one.  And,  although  I  know,  that,  for  five  years  now, 
I  have  preached  in  this  city  nothing  else  than  the  glad  message 
of  Christ,  this  has  not  yet  been  able  to  justify  me,  as  is  well 
known  to  my  Lords  of  Zurich.  Therefore  have  they,  and 
thanks  to  them  for  it !  instituted  for  me  a  public  disputation. 
I  have  drawn  up  a  summaiy  in  writing,  which  contains  all  I 
have  hitherto  taught.  That  it  is  in  conformity  with  the  Gospel, 
I  hope,  moreover,  in  presence  of  our  gracious  Lords,  to  prove  to 
the  Bishop  of  Constance  or  his  deputies.  The  Spirit  of 
God  has  prompted  me  to  speak;  He  also  knows  why  he  has 


LIFE   OF  ZWINGLI.  113 

chosen  one  so  unworthy.     Well  then;  in  His  name :     Here 
ami.'' 

Still  the  vicar-general,  Faber,  did  not  give  np  the  hope  of 
winning  over  a  part  of  the  Council  at  least,  by  friendly  words, 
warnings,  and  promises,  and  warding  off  the  decisive  blow. 
"My  esteemed  brother,  Master  Ulric  Zwingli" — he  began — 
"assures  us  that  he  has  always  preached  the  Gospel  in  Zurich. 
Indeed  I  do  not  doubt  it;  for  what  preacher,  called  of  God, 
ought  not  so  to  do  ?  He  wishes  also  to  justify  himself  before 
the  Bishop,  in  regard  to  his  doctrines.  The  fact  is,  I  desired  him 
to  visit  Constance.  I  would  have  received  him  into  my  own 
house,  shewn  him  all  friendship,  and  treated  him  like  a  brother. 
]>ut  hither  I  have  not  come,  to  discuss  evangelical  or  apostolical 
doctrines,  but  to  listen,  to  decide  in  case  of  strife,  and  in  general, 
toaidiu  guiding  everything  toward  peace  and  unity,  not  rebellion; 
for  this  is  the  will  of  Paul  as  well  as  the  Gospel.  But  if  we 
are  to  touch  praiseworthy  usages  and  customs  of  long  standing, 
then  I  declare,  as  ambassador  of  my  Lord  of  Constance,  that  I 
have  a  command  not  to  appear.  Such  things,  in  my  judgment, 
belong  only  to  a  universal  council  of  the  nations,  the  bishops, 
and  the  theologians;  for,  what  another  place  will  refuse  to  re- 
ceive, cannot  be  decided  here,  and  hence  divisions  would  spring 
up  in  the  Church.  It,  therefore,  is  my  honest  advice,  to 
postpone,  for  a  while  yet,  disputations  concerning  the  Papal 
or  Ecclesiastical  Constitutions,  now  so  many  centuries  old; 
especially  since  my  Lord,  the  Bishop,  is  informed,  that  the 
Estates  of  the  Empire  have  determined  to  hold,  within  the 
space  of  twelve  months,  a  general  council  at  Nuremberg.  For, 
in  the  end,  who  would  be  the  judge  in  such  a  disputation?  At 
the  Universities  of  Paris,  Cologne  or  Louvain  *  only,  could  the 
necessaiy  learning  be  found. '' 

*  All  three  were  then  known  for  their  decided  adherence  to  the  old 
church-order. 

10* 


114  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

''And  why  not" — Zwingli  asked  in  derision — ''at  Erfurt,  or 
Wittemberg?'^  Good  brethren,  the  Lord  Vicar  makes  use  of 
much  art,  to  divert  you  from  your  jiurpose  by  his  rhetorical 
flourishes.  We  inquire  not  how  long  a  thing  may  have 
been  in  use?  We  would  speak  of  the  truth  as  it  pre- 
sents itself  in  the  Divine  Law.  To  this,  mere  usage  ought 
to  give  way.  We  are  told  of  a  Christian  assembly,  though  I 
hope  there  is  one  such  here  in  this  chamber.  AVhere  two  or 
three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  said  our  Lord,  I  am 
in  their  midst.  There  are  also  hishojjs  enough  here  among  us; 
for  the  overseers  and  teachers  of  congregations  have  been  so 
styled  by  the  Apostles,  not  powerful  princes,  ruling  far  and 
wide,  as  we  have  them  now-a-days.  And  wherefore  should  we 
need  judges,  when  we  have  the  Holy  Scripture  itself  here  in 
the  Hebrew,  Greek  and  Latin  languages,  and  scholars,  who  un- 
derstand these  languages  as  well  as  any  at  those  universities  ? 
But  even  were  this  not  the  case,  there  are  at  least  so  many 
Christian  spirits  amongst  us,  that  with  the  help  of  God  it  should 
become  plain  to  us,  which  party  interprets  the  Scripture  truly, 
and  which  falsely.  And  lastly,  touching  the  Nuremberg  busi- 
ness, I  may  tell  you,  dear  Lords,  that  I  can  produce,  if  neces- 
sary, three  letters,  received  from  there  very  lately,  but  they 
contain  not  one  word  about  a  decree  actually  published.  Pop,e, 
bishops,  prelates  would  indeed,  for  the  most  part,  be  adverse  to 
any  meeting  of  the  kind.  And  you  of  Zurich  ought  to  esteem 
it  a  great  favor  and  a  call  of  God,  that  such  a  thing  has  hap- 
pened among  you. " 

A  long  pause  ensued,  till  the  burgomaster  rose  up,  and  once 
more  exhorted  the  opponents  to  come  forth.  No  body  stirred. 
"For  the  sake  of  Christian  charity" — said  Zwingli — "I  beg 
every  one,  who  thinks  my  doctrine  erroneous,  to  speak  out  bis 
thoughts.     I  know  there  are  several  here,  who  have  accused  me 

*  In  Erfurt  Luther  had  studied.     At  Wittemberg  he  taught. 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  115 

of  lieresy;  I  may  be  compelled  to  call  them  out  by  name/'' 
No  oue  ventured  to  confront  the  powerful  champion,  whose 
thorough  knowledge  they  feared,  whose  attack  on  the  episcopal 
ambassador  they  had  just  witnessed,  and  whose  unsparing  mode 
of  combat  they  knew. 

"Where  now" — cried  a  voice  from  the  door — "are  the 
boasters  behind  the  wine-bottle  and  on  the  streets?  Here  is  the 
man  for  you."  It  was  Gutschenkel  of  Bern,  one  of  those 
knaves,  who,  because  fools  by  profession,  escape  the  censure 
which  their  unbecoming  speeches  deserve.  Already  it  seemed, 
that  with  the  laughter  of  Zwingli's  friends,  and  the  inglorious 
flight  of  his  opponents,  the  whole  thing  would  come  to  an  end, 
when  Jacob  Wagner,  pastor  of  Neftenbach,  by  a  question  cun- 
ningly thrown  out,  in  regard  to  the  offence  of  the  pastor  of  Fis- 
lispach  imprisoned  at  Constance,  induced  the  Vicar-General  to 
say  something  about  this  man..  With  an  assumed  air  of  pity 
Faber  spoke  of  his  ignorance,  and  how  he  himself,  by  explain- 
ing passages  of  Scripture,  had  brought  him  to  acknowledge  his 
former  errors.  But  these  very  same  errors  Zwingli  had  also 
taught,  and  immediately  he  challenged  Faber  to  quote  the 
victorious  passages.  "Good  reason" — replied  the  Vicar  Gen- 
eral— "had  the  wise  man  in  the  Old  Testament,  when  he 
said :  '  The  fool  is  easily  taken  in  his  speech. '  I  had  firmly 
declared  I  would  not  dispute. "  This  beginning,  certainly  un- 
expected by  the  majority  of  the  audience,  was  followed  by  a 
prolix  homily  on  the  origin  of  heresies ;  the  battles  of  the  Pope 
and  Christendom  against  them;  words  of  Roman  historians  on 
the  value  of  unity;  the  rareness  of  the  gift  of  interpreting  lan- 
guages, of  which  he  himself  could  not  boast;  in  short,  every 
thinsr  but  that  which  was  demanded.  Yet  even  here  Zwingli 
never  suffered  him  to  wait  for  an  answer,  but  just  as  often  as 
the  Vicar,  with  unwearied  volubility  renewed  his  digressions, 
he  brought  him  back  to  the  passages  demanded.     Doctor  Se- 


116  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

bastian  Hofmeister  also  began  to  press  Faber,  and  Leo  Judae 
likewise.  The  latter,  for  a  short  tim#  back  people's  priest  at 
St.  Peter's,  was  again  united  with  his  friend  Zwingli  in  Zurich. 
Sorely  perplexed,  the  Yicar  cried  out:  "A  Hercules  could  not 
stand  against  two;''  but  the  simple  method  of  defeating  them 
all,  by  a  quotation  of  the  passages,  was  still  far  from  his  thoughts. 
Then  rose  up  his  companion.  Doctor  Martin  Blausch,  to  secure 
for  him  a  retreat,  if  possible;  but  he  also  only  dwelt  on  gener- 
alities, the  doctrines  of  the  church,  fathers,  and  ihe  right  of  de- 
cision by  the  church.  "The  good  Lord  fails  to  speak;  the 
jTOod  Lord  has  not  rightly  looked  at  the  words,''  and  similar 
gibes  fell  from  Zwiugli's  lips — proofs  rather  of  confidence  in  the 
tmth  of  his  cause  and  contempt  of  his  opponents,  than  of  the 
clemency,  which  lends  to  victory  a  higher  worth.  After  the 
silencing  of  the  embassy  of  Constance,  the  burgomaster  called 
once  more  for  other  combatants,  but  in  vain.  Zwingli  had  the 
last  word.     The  crowd  dispersed  at  noon. 

The  intei'val  was  used  by  the  Council  for  drawing  up  its  de- 
cision, which  was  published  to  the  meeting,  again  called  together 
in  the  afternoon,  and  ran  thus :  "  All  ye,  who,  answering  our 
summons  for  the  purposes  assigned,  have  appeared  before  us  to- 
day, we  give  to  understand.  A  year  is  now  gone,  since  an  em- 
bassy of  our  gracious  Lord  of  Constance  was  here  at  our  council- 
house,  before  the  burgomaster  and  the  Small  and  Great  Councils, 
on  business  of  a  similar  kind.  Then  the  request  was  preferred 
by  us  to  our  gracious  Lord,  to  call  together  in  his  diocese  learned 
men  and  preachers  for  the  examination  of  the  prevailing  doc- 
trines; so  that  a  unanimous  resolution  might  be  passed,  by 
which  every  one  might  be  guided.  But  since,  up  to  this  time, 
perhaps  for  obvious  reasons,  nothing  special  has  been  done  by 
him  in  the  matter,  and  the  dissension  among  the  clergy  and 
laity  continually  increases,  the  burgomaster.  Council  and  the 
Great  Council  of  the  city  of  Zurich,  have  again  taken  the  case 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  117 

in  hand ;  and  since  noW;  after  the  offer  of  Master  TJhic  Zwingli 
to  render  an  account,  no  one  has  risen  up,  no  one  has  dared  to 
refute  by  the  Sacred  Scriptures  the  articles  he  hjis  furnished, 
although  he  has  repeatedly  called  on  those  who  revile  him  as  a 
heretic — we,  after  mature  counsel,  have  decided,  and  it  is  our 
earnest  opinion,  that  Master  Ulric  Zwingli  shall  go  on  and  con- 
tinue, as  heretofore,  to  proclaim  the  Holy  Gospel  and  the  real 
Sacred  Scripture,  according  to  the  Spirit  of  God  and  his  ability. 
Also,  all  the  other  priests  of  the  people,  pastors  and  preachers, 
in  our  city,  canton  and  dependencies,  shall  not  do  otherwise, 
nor  preach,  except  what  they  may  be  able  to  prove  by  the  Holy 
Scripture.  Likewise,  they  shall  not  henceforth  call  each  other 
hard  names,  nor  use  other  words  of  reproach.  For  they  who 
act  personally  in  this,  we  will  deal  with  in  such  a  manner,  that 
they  shall  see  and  find  that  they  have  done  wrong. " 

*'God  be  praised !" — said  Zwingli — "He  will  have  his  Word 
rule  in  heaven  and  on  earth,  and  to  you,  my  Lords  of  Zurich, 
he  will  doubtless  grant  strength  and  power  to  establish  his 
truth  in  your  canton. '' 

Onc-e  more  the  Vicar  General  essayed  to  speak.  Now,  for 
the  first  time,  it  became  possible  for  him  to  read  the  articles  of 
Zwingli,  and  of  course  he  had  to  find  several  that  were  not  sils- 
taine-d  by  the  Holy  Scriptures.  "  Well  then — prove  it,  Sir 
Vicar  General,"  said  Zwingli.  It  can  be  seen  in  works  on 
church-history,  how  Faber,  with  no  little  adroitness  and  a 
blinding  flow  of  words,  endeavored  to  point  out  a  contradiction 
between  several  of  the  syllogisms  and  some  points  of  Holy 
Scripture.  Perhaps,  too,  this  would  have  succeeded  before 
hearers  less  instructed ;  but  with  the  greatest  ease  his  superior 
antagonist  shewed  to  the  assembly,  where  in  one  place  he  tore 
words  from  their  connection,  in  another  distorted  the  plain 
sense,  sought  to  give  the  later  expressions  of  the  Fathers  a 
scriptural  sound,  and   even  employed   the  arts  of  a  lawyer,  in 


118  LIFE    OF    ZWINCLI. 

wliicli  lie  himself  was  evidently  conscious  of  deceit.  ^^  You 
knew" — said  Zwiugli — ''  Sir  Vicar  Greneral,  that  we,  formerly^ 
at  the  university,  practised  in  common  such  dazzling  tricks  of 
logic,  and  that  I  am  skilled  in  them  as  well  as  you;  but  it 
truly  grieves  me,  that  you  as  a  serious  man  come  still  armed 
with  such  sophistries. " 

Anger  began  to  appear  in  the  assembly.  The  speeches  of  the 
opposing  parties  became  shorter  and  more  bitter.  In  order  to 
keep  them  from  degenerating  into  abuse,  the  Councils  rose. 
The  assembly  dissolved,  and  the  burgomaster  Roist  took  leave 
of  the  by-standers  with  a  smile,  saying:  "The  sword,  with 
which  the  pastor  of  FiSlispach  was  stabbed,  would  not  come  out 
of  its  sheath  to-day. '' 

Faber  by  his  behavior  had  fallen  low  in  the  estimation  of  the 
Zurichers.  The  monks  alone,  whose  courage  again  revived, 
since  the  close  of  the  battle,  tried  among  those  with  whom  they 
associated,  to  point  out  the  circumstance,  that  the  Yicar  Gen- 
eral had  kept  the  last  word,  as  a  sign  of  victory.  He  himself 
also  boasted  of  it  in  Constance  after  his  return,  and  wherever 
Zwingli's  rough  manner  or  vehement  language  afforded  an 
opportunity  for  censure,  it  was  heaped  up  and  spread  on  all 
sides.  "In  short" — ^Vl■ites  Salat  of  Luzern,  clerk  of  the  court 
— "  Zwingli  pours  down  far  too  many  scornful  words  on  the 
head  of  the  Lord  Vicar,  that  excellent  man  of  honor.  Now  he 
calls  him  Sir  Hans,  Sir  John,  Sir  Vioary,  plucks  the  vicar- 
bonnet  off,  and  this  times  without  number,  and  without  shame. 
This  was  his  mode  of  disputing.  " 

Calmly  and  with  a  manifest  endeavor,  as  far  as  it  lay  in  his 
power,  to  form  an  unbiassed  judgment,  an  old  schoolmaster, 
Erhard  Ilegenwald,  has  described  the  transaction;  and  his 
narrative  is  the  more  worthy  of  credence,  for  the  very  reason 
that  Faber  was  so  provoked  by  it,  that  he  attempted  to  refute  it 
by  a  statement  of  his  own.     The  distinguished  air,  which  he 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  119 

assumed,  the  haughty  treatment  of  Hegenwald,  the  importance, 
which  he  strove  to  give  to  his  trifling  mistakes,  the  mixture  al.^o 
of  unfounded  assertions  contained  in  this  production  roused  the 
indignation  of  the  young  men  of  Zurich,  six  of  whom,  mem- 
bers then  ah-eady  for  the  most  part  of  the  Great,  and  afterwards 
of  the  Small  Council,  joined  in  the  publication  of  an  answer  to 
Faber,  which  they  entitled  ^^  Hawk  Plucking."  The  rude  cas- 
tigation,  the  biting  and  often  also  tasteless  wit,  and  the  entire 
absence  of  all  the  respect,  which  they  formerly  paid  to  age  and 
official  position,  sorely  wounded  the  Vicar  General,  who,  but 
that  it  seemed  useless,  would  have  complained  of  the  ''  libelous 
little  book"  to  the  government  of  Zurich, 

Thus  the  hostility  of  Faber  toward  Zwingli  and  his  friends 
soon  extended  itself  to  Zurich  also.  This  champion  against  the 
doctrines  of  the  Reformer  became  a  persecutor  of  all  his  ad- 
herents— an  inexorable  judge  to  those,  who  fell  into  his  power. 
In  the  end  he  even  laughed  at  the  tears,  which  the  torture  of 
the  rack  wrung  from  one  of  his  victims,  and  rejoiced  to  see  him 
burning  at  the  stake.* 

Zwingli,  although  satisfied  with  the  decree  of  the  govern- 

*  A  -writer  of  that  ago  says  of  him,  using  indeed  colors  somewhat 
dark  :  "  We  ought  rather  to  call  Faber  a  cruel  judge  than  a  doctor  or 
bishop.  Throughout  all  Germany  and  the  neighboring  countries  his 
severity  is  known.  Scarcely  a  hangman  in  our  fatherland  has  execut- 
ed so  many  as  have  been  condemned  by  the  unrighteous  sentences  of 
Faber."  And  at  the  close,  in  a  simple  narrative  of  Hans  Huglin  of 
Lindau,  who  was  burnt  as  a  heretic,  we  read :  "  While  the  poor  miser- 
able man  was  compelled  to  groan  thus  (he  had  been  on  the  rack),  the 
Vicary  sat  there  and  laughed.  When  the  poor  man  saw  this,  he  said : 
0,  dear  Sir,  why  do  you  laugh  at  me  ;  I  am  but  an  abandoned  creature, 
who  am  not  worth  laughing  at.  Laugh  over  youi'self,  and  God  forgive 
you  ;  you  know  not  what  you  do.  At  which  words  the  Vicary,  who 
looked  at  him  still  more  wickedly,  was  ashamed  to  laugh  and  grew 
very  red  ;  since  which  all  the  world  has  pitied  the  poor  man." 


120  LIFE    OF    ZWINCi'LI 

ment,  that  he  should  continue  unmolested  in  his  way  of  teach- 
ing, was  by  no  means  so  with  the  t^irn,  which  the  conference 
took  in  the  afternoon,  through  the  tricks  of  Faber  and  the  sort 
of  protest  against  his  syllogisms  as  anti-scriptural,  with  which 
the  Vicar  General  had  left  Zurich.  He  resolved  to  append  to 
each  one  of  these  points  a  detailed  explanation  and  proof,  in  a 
work,  which  is  even  now  considered  the  basis  of  his  system  of 
Christian  doctrine,  as  well  as  his  views  in  regard  to  church  and 
state.*  "Day  and  night" — he  wrote  to  his  friend  AVerner 
Steiner — "  do  I  labor  at  this  work."  It  consisted  of  a  volume 
of  300  closely-printed  pages,  and  was  finished  in  five  months, 
amid  daily  preaching  and  a  crowd  of  other  business.  New  and 
still  more  violent  enemies  were  awakened  by  its  appearance, 
and,  although  many  boasting  promises  of  a  refutation  were  made, 
none  ever  saw  the  light. 

But  with  the  rapid  spread  of  this  work  the  time  had  come, 
when  the  influence  of  the  Keformer,  hitherto  confined  mostly  to 
Zurich  and  its  territory,  flowed  out  in  all  directions  beyond  these 
limits.  The  Zurich  ambassadors  had  to  witness  a  prelude  of 
this  in  a  riot  at  Luzern,  where  a  disorderly  rabble,  instigated 
by  several  deputies  of  the  diet  sitting  at  that  place,  carried 
past  their  lodging  an  elfigy  of  Zwingli  with  scoffs  and  curses, 
and  burnt  it  with  all  the  formalities  used  by  the  Inquisition. 
Two  months  later,  in  June,  Caspar  Goeldi,  who  had  been 
obliged  to  leave  Zurich  on  account  of  mercenary  service,  com- 
plained before  a  second  diet  at  Baden,  that  his  daughter  had 
willfully  eloped  from  the  convent  of  Ilermatschweil  and  married 
one  Schuster  at  Bremgarten,  and  the  landvogt  of  Sorgans  like- 
wise, that  a  priest  of  that  place  had  taken  to  himself  a  wife. 
Zwingli's  sermons  became  still  more  severe  against  deserters 

*  Printed  entire  under  the  title  of  *'  Uslegm  mid  Grand  der  Schluss- 
reden,"  in  the  first  volume  of  Zwiugli's  works,  edited  by  Schuler  and 
Schultheiss. 


LIFE    OF    ZVriNGLI.  121 

and  pensions.     '' Confederates/' — said  Caspar  of  Muelinen 

^'  check  Lutheranism  in  the  bud.  The  preachers  at  Zurich 
have  already  become  masters  of  their  rulers,  so  that  they  are  no 
more  able  to  withstand  them.  A  man  is  no  longer  safe  there  in 
his  own  house.  The  peasantry  refuse  to  pay  their  rents  and 
tithes,  and  great  discord  reigns  in  the  city  and  canton. ''  The 
resolution  was  carried  in  the  Recess,  to  communicate  the  com- 
plaints to  all  the  governments,  in  order  to  agree  if  possible  on  a 
remedy;  especially  since  the  pastor  had  meddled  also  in  politic- 
al affairs,  and  preached  among  other  things:  ^'The  Confeder- 
ates sell  Christian  blood  and  eat  Christian  flesh." 

At  Zwingli's  request,  the  articles  of  the  Ilecess  were  given 
to  him,  so  that  he  might  draw  up  a  vindication.  This  vindica- 
tion, which  was  also  laid  before  the  Great  Council  at  Zurich, 
shows  the  undaunted  courage  of  the  man,  as  well  as  his  assu- 
rance of  being  in  the  path  of  duty. 

''Wise  and  gracious  Lords," — wrote  he — "I  believe  indeed 
that  complaints  against  me  are  rife;  but  to  show  the  justice  of 
them  is,  as  I  hope  in  God,  in  the  power  of  no  one.  I  will  in- 
deed confess,  that  I  earnestly  rebuke  the  prevailing  vices,  in 
chief  that  of  perfidious  bribe-taking,  which  is  in  vogue  in  nearly 
all  courts  and  countries.  But  of  my  Lords,  the  Confederates,  I 
have  never  spoken  improperly.  I  have  named  them  perhaps, 
though  not  rudely ;  for,  from  youth  up,  nothing  has  been  more 
foreign  to  my  nature,  except  when  my  fatherland  has  been  evil 
spoken  of.  When  obliged  to  rebuke  severely  and  bear  down 
against  vices,  then  I  have  mentioned  neither  Dalmatians  nor 
Englishmen;  and  this  is  my  constant  custom.  Moreover,  by  no 
means  do  I  agree  with  them,  who  say,  no  body  ought  ever  to 
be  called  by  name  from  the  pulpit.  God  has  never  commanded 
this;  perhaps  the  Pope  has;  but  none  the  less  am  I  of  opinion, 
that  we  should  not  make  the  V7ord  of  God  hateful  by  our  rash- 
ness.    When,  dmine:  Lent  in  the  past  year,  I  preached  about 

u 


122  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 


eating  flesh,  I  uttered  these,  among  other  words:  Many  a  one 
reviles  flesh-eatins;  as  evil  and  thinks  that  a  jri'eat  sin,  which 
God  has  never  forbidden;  but  to  butcher  and  sell  human  flesh, 
he  thinks  no  sin.  But  in  this  I  called  neither  Confederates, 
nor  Jandshnechts,  by  name.  That  I  said  nothing  more,  the 
Great  Council  of  Zurich  will  bear  me  witness.  In  general,  for 
some  time  back  I  have  had  to  endure  incredible  lies  against 
me;  they  have  caused  me  little  sorrow,  for  I  thought:  The  dis- 
ci j)le  is  not  above  his  master;  they  lied  against  Christ,  hence  it 
is  DO  wonder,  they  lie  against  thee  also.  Thus  my  enemies 
once  said  of  me,  that  I  abused  the  mother  of  God  our  Lord, 
Jesus  Christ.  I  answered  them  with  a  suitable  little  book. 
Again  they  say,  I  have  declared  that  neither  rents  nor  tithes 
should  be  paid.  Item,  that  I  have  no  regard  for  Christ's  holy 
body,  and  have  preached  an  opinion  about  it  so  scandalous, 
that  I  will  not  repeat  it,  lest  the  hearts  of  pious  Christians  might 
be  shocked.  And  much  other  stuff  of  the  like  sort,  they  swear 
I  have  preached;  but  all  these,  saving  your  Honors'  presence, 
are  pure  lies.  Then  they  tell  of  me  that  I  have  had  four  chil- 
dren this  year;  that  I  wander  about  the  streets  at  night;  that  I 
am  a  gambler;  that  I  am  hired  by  pensions  from  princes  and 
lords ;  yet  these  also,  saving  your  Honors'  presence,  are  pure 
lies.  Now  I  would  not  again  set  right  these  points,  touching 
my  morals,  if  they  were  not  prejudicial  to  the  good  city  of 
Zurich;  for,  since  it  would  be  a  great  disgrace  to  so  glorious  a 
city,  if  it  suffered  such  vices  even  in  a  boy,  I  need  not  speak  of 
one,  who  is  devoted  to  God's  Word  and  the  common  salvation 
of  men.  As  to  this,  wise  and  gracious  Lords,  let  it  be  far  from 
you  to  put  faith  in  any  one,  who  speaks  what  he  pleases  against 
others  or  myself;  for  the  times  are  perilous.  The  devil,  who 
is  an  enemy  of  the  truth,  has  used  all  his  arts  to  cast  down  and 
destroy  it.  Therefore  it  is  my  humble  prayer  to  Your  Wor- 
ships, that,  as  heretofore,  if  they  have  sonie^yhat  tQ  ?^>y  to  me, 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT.  123 

or  any  one  somewhat  against  me,  he  or  they  seek  me  before  my 
Lords  at  Zurich,  where  I  am  a  citizen  and  a  canon;  besides  a 
born  Toggenburger  and  a  countryman  at  Schwyz  and  Glanis. 
Bat,  as  for  as  regards  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  I  ask  no  other  pro- 
tection from  any  one,  than  may  serve  to  prevent  interference 
against  the  pure  word  of  God;  and  each  and  every  one  shall 
see,  if  God  will,  that  since  I  laid  hold  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
I  have  never  taught  anything,  whose  ground  I  did  not  search 
into  beforehand,  as  far  as  God  permitted.  Understand  this  my 
plain,  hasty  letter  in  the  best  sense;  for  it  is  written  without 
deceitful  cunning.  Let  it  also  be  made  public,  so  that  each 
and  every  one  can  see  my  innocence.  And  may  Almighty 
God  keep  your  State  in  his  grace  and  honor !     Amen, '' 

There  is  nothing  in  the  records  of  the  Recesses  to  show, 
whether  this  vindication  was  really  read  before  the  Diet.  It  is 
certain,  however,  that  it  was  known  to  the  individual  membei*s, 
among  whom,  as  well  as  among  the  States,  opinions  concerning 
Zwingli  already  began  to  be  divided,  and  his  adherents  were 
treated  with  far  more  mildness  in  Bern,  Solothurn,  Basel  and 
Schaffhausen,  than  in  Luzern,  Freiburg  and  the  three  Forest 
Cantons.  In  Glarus  several  of  the  most  influential  members  of 
the  government  continued  to  keep  up  a  correspondence  with 
him,  or  a  friendly  feeling  toward  him ;  indeed,  the  government  of 
Bern,  as  early  as  June,  1528,  issued  a  decree,  that  that  only, 
which  could  be  proved  by  the  Holy  Scripture,  should  be  taught 
in  the  pulpit;  and,  at  the  close  of  the  same  year,  the  nuns  of 
Kcsnigsfeld  received  permission  to  leave  the  convent,  if  they 
desired  it. 

In  this  respect,  the  Council  of  Zurich  had  already  taken  the 
lead  in  the  month  of  June,  by  doing  the  same  thing  for  the 
Sisters  at  (Edenbach.  The  wealth  of  this  convent  was  consid- 
erable; the  nuns,  whose  number  was  rather  large,  belonged,  for 
the  most  part,  to  distinguished  families.     It  was  no  easy  un- 


124  LIFE    OF    ZWJXGLI. 

dertaking,  in  a  time  of  such  excitement,  to  keep  peace  among 
them,  especially  because  the  fiercest  enemies  of  reform,  the  Do- 
minican monks,  who  were  devoted  to  the  same  rule  of  order, 
had  abundant  access  to  them  as  preachers,  as  confessors,  and 
under  all  possible  pretences.  The  Council,  sorry  to  find  this 
influence,  and  tracing  it  in  the  quarrels,  which  already  began  to 
arise  in  many  families,  through  the  instigation  of  the  spiritual 
sisters,  invited  Zwingli  to  preach  in  the  convent.  This  had 
never  yet  been  done  by  a  so-called  secular  priest.  A  part  of 
the  nuns  refused  to  hear  the  unwelcome  speaker.  Zwingli 
therefore  printed  the  discourse,  which  he  delivered,  and  sent  it 
to  them.  Requests  were  now  sent  to  the  government  by  one 
for  release  from  her  vows ;  prayers  by  another  for  the  return  of 
their  former  confessors  and  preachers.  Strife  arose  in  the  con- 
vent. Here  parents  saw  with  displeasure  the  resolution  of  their 
daughters  to  go  back  into  secular  life,  whilst  others  were  dis- 
satisfied, because  theirs  refused  to  do  this.  For  some  time  the 
Council  tried  to  help  matters  by  rendering  access  to  the  con- 
vent difficult,  and  by  obliging  Leo  Juda)  to  preach  there  regu- 
larly; but  when  the  discord  was  not  allayed  thereby,  permission 
to  leave  was  granted  to  all  those  who  desired  to  go,  with  the 
privilege  of  taking  whatever  they  had  brought,  besides  their 
clothing  and  furniture.  The  rest  were  allowed  to  remain  in  the 
convent,  but  were  obliged  to  lay  aside  the  habit  of  the  order  and 
listen  to  Leo  Judge's  preaching.  For  the  management  of  the 
revenues  and  general  control  a  court  of  magistrates  was  institu- 
ted. Tlie  number  of  those,  who  went  back  to  secular  life,  still 
increased;  the  aged  gradually  died  oir  in  the  convent.  Simi- 
lar ordinances  were  passed  in  relation  to  the  other  nunneries  in 
the  territory  of  Zurich. 

It  is  enough  to  show,  that  in  these  an-angements,  the  gov- 
vernment  was  prompted  neither  by  a  blind  zeal  for  tearing  down, 
nor  a  base  desire  for  the  property  of  the  convents.     He  who 


LIFE   OF   ZWIXGLI.  125 

looks  over  the  writings  of  Zwingli,  *  will  soon  find,  that  the 
Council  followed  closely  the  path  marked  out  by  him,  and  in- 
deed throughout,  in  the  consciousness  that  they  acted  in  full 
harmony  with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  As  another  proof  of  the 
bold  thinking  and  fearless  language  of  the  liefoiTner,  we  will 
here  quote,  if  it  be  only  what  he  says,  in  the  Explanation  of  his 
Final  Discourses  as  to  the  right  disposition  of  the  property  of  the 
suppressed  establishments:  '^The  simple-minded  shudder  at 
this,  because  they  think  it  not  right  to  change  the  last  will  of 
any  body;  but  a  greater  fraud  lies  in  this  than  in  other  abuses. 
See :  What  motive  swayed  those,  who  founded  the  benefices  ? 
Nothing  else  than  because  they  were  fidscly  taught,  that  the 
mass  is  a  sacrifice.  Therefore  they  dreamed  they  were  bestow- 
ing their  possessions  on  the  poor,  when  they  gave  to  this  object. 
But  now,  since  we  are  conscious  of  the  deceit,  that  the  mass  is 
not  a  sacrifice,  but  the  food  of  him,  who  eats  with  faith  and 
spiritual  hunger,  we  may  divert  the  property  to  the  poor,  and 
withdraw  it  from  idle  bellies;  yet  we  do  this  after  their  de- 
parture. But  here  they  cry  out;  See,  thus  they  undertake  to 
do  away  with  testaments,  legacies  and  last  wills!  Answer: 
Here  lies  the  rogue  behind  the  hedge.  Has  not  every  govern- 
ment its  own  rif]^ht  and  custom  in  the  makins;  of  leu:acics? 
Who  meddles  with  the  appointment  of  heirs  ?  Who  wishes  to  act 
falsely  here?  You  have  falsified  more  than  any  one  else;  for 
you  have  tampered  with  last  wills,  so  that  that  has  been  given  to 
you,  which  belonged  to  other  lawful  heirs,  and  you  have  done 
it  by  your  parables  and  false  doctrines,  f     Thus  what  the  people 

*  Explanation  of  the  Final  Discourses,  viz,  the  26,  27,  33,  64th,  etcet. 

f  He,  who  is  acquainted  with  history  in  its  sources,  Imows  that  this 
assertion  of  Zwingli  is  by  no  means  maliciously  snatched  from  the  air. 
It  cannot  indeed  be  charged  against  all  convent-property ;  but,  to  il- 
lustrate the  mode,  in  which  a  part  at  least  of  such  acquisitions 
were  obtained  during  the  Middle  Ages,  I  will  insert  here  a  document, 

11* 


123  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

have  as  a  civil  right,  you  claim  as  a  divine  right.  *  *  * 
See,  here  we  find  the  real  forgers  of  wills,  who  have  foisted  in 
their  avarice,  by  preteudingtliat  it  was  kiudly  done  for  the  salva- 

•wbicii  was  preserved  iu  their  arcliives  by  our  forefathers  of  Zurich,  ex- 
pr.tsdn  Jor  ihe  informaiion  of  posterity,  and  which,  drawn  up  on  parch- 
ment and  furnished  with  the  seal  of  State,  is  still  extant.  The  monas- 
teries had  plainly  fallen  off  from  their  original  severe  rules.  For  the 
better  understanding  of  it,  the  orthography  and  punctuation  only  are 
brouglit  nearer  to  modern  style. 

"  To  all,  who  see  this  letter  or  hear  it  read,  we,  the  Council  of 
Zurich,  whose  name  are  written  after,  make  known,  that  we  saw  the 
letter  of  the  bui-ghcrs  of  Strassburg,  entire,  true,  and  sealed  with  their 
public  seal,  as  stands  hereafter  written.  And  that  we  and  our  succes- 
sors after  us,  if  a  similar  case  arise  in  our  midst,  may  be  able  to  judge 
the  more  correctly,  we  have,  with  the  leave  of  our  burghers,  willingly, 
publicly  and  unanimously  written  this  letter  from  the  heart,  and  pub- 
licly sealed  it  with  our  burghers'  great  seal, /or  a  perpetual  and  eternal 
record. 

*'  To  the  honorable,  the  wise  and  the  discreet,  the  Council  and  bur- 
ghers generally  of  Basel,  of  Colmar,  of  Schlettstadt,  of  Rheinau,  of 
NafTach,  and  after  them,  all  those  cities  where  this  letter  appears,  Nich- 
olas the  younger  Zorn,  mayor  of  the  city,  and  the  burghers  of  Strassburg 
generally  offer  their  free  service  Avith  entire  friendship.  Many  things 
arc  done  honorably  and  justly,  Avhich  in  foreign  countries  are  perverted, 
because  their  origin  is  not  rightly  understood.  Hence  we  humbly  pray 
you  to  receive  our  address  with  favor  and  sympathize  with  us,  because 
they  have  troubled  us,  for  whom  we  have  done  very  much  indeed.  Your 
"Worships,  the  barefooted  friars  and  the  preachers  (Dominican  monks) 
had  fallen  into  the  practice  of  taking  legacies  in  tlie  world  outside  of 
tiie  monasteries,  and  when  a  rich  man,  or  a  rich  lady,  lay  on  a  death- 
bed, then  they  ran  thither  and  persuaded  him  to  give  all  his  property 
to  them,  and  thus  all  his  heirs  were  disinherited  and  ruined.  Then  the 
latter  came  before  us  crying  and  complaining  that  they  had  been  disin- 
herited, ^lany  such  complaints  came  before  us.  The  monks  sold  also 
their  own  property,  on  condition  that  it  should  revert  to  them  again  on 
the  deati!  of  the  buyer.  This  madr  ns  fh.nk  thatour  citif  icoidd  in  a  short 
time  become  cnlireli/  theirs.     They  received  also  into  their  order  the  chil- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  127 

tion  o':"  souls.  But  they  say,  if  oac  of  his  own  free-will  gives 
us  his  property  ou  his  death-bed,  is  it  not  riglit  for  us  to  take  it? 
Answer:  no,  for  thou  shouldst  have  before  given  a  right  Chris- 
tian  understanding  to   the   donor,    representing  things  thus  : 

drcn  of  rich  people,  -witliout  the  consent  and  knowledge  of  their  friends, 
in  order  to  get  their  property.  At  this  also  wc  have  been  greatly  troubled 
and  many  complaints  against  them  have  been  brought  before  us.  When 
this  had  continued  for  a  long,  long  time,  and  we  could  bear  no  longer 
the  manifold  complaints  of  the  burghers  ;  then  we  went  to  the  preachers 
and  begged  them  to  conduct  themselves  so,  that  such  complaints  would 
no  more  reach  us  from  our  citizens.  Then  they  spake  and  promised  us 
that  what  papers  the  barefooted  friars  (Franciscans)  would  give  us,  not 
to  do  it  any  more,  they  also  would  give  us.  Wc  went  to  the  barefooted 
friars  and  laid  this  matter  before  them.  They  answered  thus:  What 
Your  Worships  require  us  to  promise  you,  that  we  are  dii-ectcd  by  the 
rules  of  our  order  not  to  do  ;  even  if  you  had  never  issued  a  command, 
yet  had  we  been  forbidden  not  to  do  it.  Then  spake  we :  Make  us 
such  a  paper  ou  it  as  seems  good  to  you,  that  it  may  stand  as  a 
pledge  between  us.  They  drew  up  the  paper  as  we  send  you  the  copy 
word  for  word.  Then  wc  came  to  the  preachers  (Dominicans)  with  the 
paper  and  they  bade  us  give  them  a  copy.  After  that  their  provincial 
came,  and  they  did  as  he  told  them,  and  abused  us  for  this  thing  be- 
yond measure,  four  years  in  succession.  But  at  last,  a  complaint  was 
lodged  against  them  for  taking  the  estate  of  a  lady  from  the  lawful 
heirs ;  therefore  we  begged  them  again  to  give  us  a  paper  like  that  of 
the  barefooted  friars,  as  they  had  promised  to  do.  Then  they  said 
proudly,  that  rather  than  do  it  they  would  let  their  heads  be  chopped 
off  with  axes.  This  made  us  unwilling  to  have  them  as  clergymen, 
since  they  would  not  keep  their  promises.  And  when  we  began  to  build 
on  the  commons  of  our  city  before  their  gates,  they  ran  to  our  women 
and  beat  our  servants  with  clubs  and  shovels  till  one  was  killed.  At 
which  we  became  the  more  wroth  and  would  have  torn  their  gate  from 
its  hinges.  This  have  we  written  to  you  and  pray,  since  we  need  youi* 
counsel  and  favor  in  this  matter,  that  you  will  act  a  friendly  part,  be- 
cause we  lean  ou  you  and  would  do  the  same  for  you  in  an  hour  of  like 
need.  We  also  pi'ay  you,  if  we  get  judges  in  this  affair,  who  are 
allied  to  you,  that  you  will  influence  them  to.vard  us,  so  that  they  will 


128  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

Consider  not  thy  temporal  property  thine  own;  thou  art  only 
a  steward  over  it.  Thou  shouldst  divide  it  among  the  poor, 
which  is  pleasing  to  God,  and  shouldst  not  give  it  to  those, 
who  do  not  need  it.  Thou  seest  that  such  property  is  often 
used,  only  to  foster  pride  and  vanity  in  the  temples,  even 
though  it  is  not  squandered  wantonly.  God  has  commanded, 
to  give  to  the  poor ;  do  it  then ;  and  no  one  shall  be  scan- 
dalized, if  that  which  has  hitherto  been  misused,  is  turned  to 
the  Christian  advantage  of  the  poor.  For  were  they  who,  un- 
knowingly have  contributed  to  their  bellies,  still  here,  they 
would  snatch  it  again  out  of  their  hands.  But  no  appropriat- 
ing hand  should  be  laid  on  it;  for  that  would  be  acting  the 
thief,  or  the  robber.  The  authorities  should  wait  till  the 
jointures  are  without  a  possessor  (  till  the  present  incum- 
bents are  dead,  or  have  voluntarily  relinquished  their  rights), 
and  then  arrange  it  with  God  himself;  so  that  common  justice 
be  maintained  and  no  one  led  into  wickedness." 

Why  should  a  people,  accustomed  to  form  free  judgments  on 
human  affairs,  as  well  as  to  express  their  opinions  freely  concern- 
ing them,  oppose  with  violence  such  views,  founded  as  they 
were  by  Zwingli,  at  all  points,  on  the  Holy  Scriptures?  Did 
not  experience  also  teach  that  the  Church  of  Christ  has  become 
great  in  poverty,  and  straightway  been  corrupted  by  riches? 
Willingly  or  unwillingly,  the  government  had  to  yield  to  public 

be  favorable  to  our  rights,  just  as  we  would  do  for  jou  in  the  same 
strait." 

The  names  of  he  Council  (  at  Zurich,  as  above  )  are  Burkard  von 
Ilottingen,  Rudolph  von  Bcggenhoven,  Chuon  von  Tucbclnstein,  Henry 
Vinko  and  .Jacob  from  the  Mczie,  knight?!,  Ruodolf  dcr  Muelner,  Ruo- 
dolf  dcr  Kriek,  Ulric  der  Truebor,  Peter  Wolflcibscho,  Ulric  im  Gewelbe, 
Henry  Stoeri  and  .John  Pilgriu  Burger.  This  paper  was  transcribed 
in  the  twelve-hundred  and  eighty-seventh  year,  from  God's  birth 
on  the  Monday  after  Saint  Urban's  day,  when  the  indication  was 
the  XVth. 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI  129 

opiuioD,  and  awaken  to  a  still  more  livcl}^  consciousness,  that,  if 
it  would  not  continually  oscillate,  without  character,  between 
the  old  and  the  new,  no  escape  remained,  except  in  the  way 
which  the  welfare  and  honor  of  the  country  pointed  out;  by 
making  common  cause  with  the  bold  and  progressive  Reformer. 

From  this  feeling,  it  no  longer  threw  any  obstacles  in  the  way 
of  the  public  marriage  of  the  clergy  in  the  churches,  even  that 
of  Leo  Judo3,  people's  priest  at  St.  Peter's.  William  Roeubli, 
then  preacher  at  Y/ytikon,  anxious  to  set  a  striking  example, 
h  id  made  a  beginning,  by  wedding  the  daughter  of  a  wealthy 
countryman,  amid  a  concourse  of  joyful  guests,  on  the  2bth  of 
April,  1523. 

A  letter  came  from  the  Emperor,  accompanied  by  a  decree  of 
the  Bishop,  in  which  the  prohibition  of  such  marriages,  the 
punishment  of  those  who  broke  their  monastic  vows,  as  well  as 
a  severer  watchfulness  against  innovating  teachers,  were  strongly 
enjoined;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  Council  decided,  against 
the  wish  of  the  Bishop,  that  this  "mandate"  should  neither 
be  complied  with,  nor  even  acknowledged,  and  wrote  to  him ;  "  in 
the  city  of  Zurich,  its  courts  and  its  territories,  the  Gospel  and 
the  Divine  Word  shall  be  tmly  proclaimed,  but  if  any  one  thinks 
that  heretical  matters  and  articles  arc  preached,  let  him  point 
them  out,  whereupon  fitting  action  will  be  taken  in  the  case. " 

Just  in  proportion  as  Zv/ingli's  position  became  more  secure, 
his  views  were  transferred  to  the  system  of  government, 
and  the  Reformation  taking  hold  thus  of  political  life,  new 
enjbarrassments  were  prepared  for  him  by  the  very  men,  who 
originally  supported  him,  and  the  first  traces  of  dangerous 
movements  from  below  upward  began  already  to  appear. 

The  time  was  ripe  for  his  great  work.  Boldness  only  was 
needed,  to  give  the  first  utterance  to  that  of  which  the  majority 
were  more  or  less  conscious :  The  deceit,  the  abuses  that  have 
poisoned  our  civil  as  well  as  our  religious  life  must  be  put  down. 


130  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

In  sucli  moments,  the  feeling  of  deliverance  was  awakened  in 
every  heart :  nobler  powers,  intellectual  activities  were  stirred 
up;  but  mingled  at  the  same  time  with  hereditary  weakness, 
seductive  vices  and  passions,  whose  charms  he,  who  is  born  of 
earth,  can  not  wholly  resist;  and  the  brave  man,  who  called  the 
movement  into  life,  had  soon  to  contend  less  with  old  ene- 
mies, already  half  conquered,  than  with  the  new  ones  rising 
up  on  all  sides. 

This  was  the  prospect  which  unfolded  itself  to  the  Reformer, 
as  early  as  the  year  1523,  soon  after  the  first  Religious  Confer- 
ence. William  Roeubli,  the  above-mentioned  preacher  at  Wyti- 
kon,  Simon  Stumpf,  pastor  at  Hoeng,  and  even  Zwingli's  for- 
mer scholar,  friend  and  admirer,  Conrad  G-rebel,  are  known  as 
the  first  by  whom  the  congregations  ^ere  disturbed  and  seduced 
into  dangerous  measures.  Among  several  points,  based  on  the 
Gospel  as  they  pretended,  none  was  more  readily  seized  on  by 
the  people  than  these — that  the  tithe,  according  to  the  Divine 
AVord,  should  go  exclusively  to  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  and  that 
the  taking  of  interest  for  money  loaned  was  forbidden.  In  fact, 
deputies  from  several  congregations  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
city  appeared  before  the  Council,  on  June  22d,  with  the  petition, 
that,  since  the  tithe  was  eleemosynary  under  the  Gospel,  and 
theirs  was  uselessly  squandered  by  the  canons  of  the  Great 
IMinster,  they  might  be  released  from  the  burden.  They  were 
plainly  rebuked  by  the  Council  in  a  scaled  letter.  It  was  not 
right  in  the  government  to  support  error.  But  the  flame  was 
not  in  the  least  smothered  by  this  act;  the  bait  was  too  teuipt- 
ii^o- — to  free  themselves,  under  the  shield  of  religion,  from  a  tax, 
which  often  before  had  been  resisted.  Rude  sermons,  for  and 
ao-ainst  the  justice  of  the  thing,  were  multiplied.  A  book, 
called  "  Chief  Articles  of  Christian  doctrine  against  unchristian 
Usury,"  written  by  a  Doctor  Strauss,  and  another,  entitled 
*' Balaam's  Little  Ass,''  were  circulated.     It  was  also  asserted 


LIFE    OF    ZWINOLI.  131 

that  Zwingli  rejected  tithes  and  interest.  Grebel  even  ventured 
to  write  to  his  brother-in-law,  Yadianus,  in  St.  Gall :  "  You  wi-h 
for  news  about  the  tithe-basiness.  I  can  say  nothing-  in  ao- 
cordanee  with  sincerity  and  the  Gospel,  if  I  do  not  say,  that 
the  people  in  our  world  of  Zurich  defraud  in  this  matter  like 
tyrants  and  Turks.  'People  of  this  world'  I  style  the  tyrants 
of  our  fatherland,  who  go  by  the  name  of  '  the  assembled 
fathers,'  Decimating  fathers  they  ought  to  be  called.  Thou 
art  not  perhaps  willing  to  believe  me,  and  yet  T  see  it  with  my 
own  eyes.  Ordy  ask  Zwingllj  who  can  tell  thee  everything/ 
hetter  than  I  can." 

Such  assertions  as  this,  which  were  echoing  already  through 
the  whole  Confederacy,  the  prayers  of  his  friends  and  the  wishes 
o-  the  government  induced  Zwingli  to  declare  himself  publicly 
on  the  subject.  This  was  done  in  a  sermon,  which  was  given 
to  the  press  under  the  title :  ''  On  Divine  and  Human  Right- 
eousness." 

In  earlier  moments  of  enthusiasm  over  the  rich  fruits  of  his 
struggle,  from  a  feeling  of  the  wide  difference  between  evan- 
gelical freedom  and  the  pressure  of  the  numerous  burdens  im- 
posed by  a  degenerate  church,  a  word  may  have  escaped  him, 
which,  joyfully  laid  hold  of,  distorted  and  magnified,  gave  some 
color  to  the  reproach,  that  he  wished  also  to  attack  civil  order 
and  guaranteed  rights.  This  sermon,  prepared  with  mature 
deliberation  and  assured  confidence,  shows  how  safe  his  stand- 
point here  was,  and  that  his  system  did  not  rest  on  fragments 
of  knowledge,  dark  feelings  and  a  mer^  negative  spirit  of  con- 
tradiction, but  was  based  on  a  profound  understanding  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  in  their  entire  connection. 

In  seeking  to  bring  the  sense  of  human  justice  into  harmony 
with  the  fulfillment  of  religious  duty,  the  lower  position  was 
assigned  to  the  citizen,  in  his  relations  to  the  state,  where,  in 
order  to  escape  just  punishment,  he  is  obliged  to  obey;  and  the 


132  LIFE    OF    ZWIXCLI. 

liigher  to  the  Cliristian,  in  the  spiritual  kingdom  of  his  Lord 
and  Master,  where  he  is  bound  to  aspire  after  the  noblest  things, 
in  a  spirit  of  faith,  love  and  freedom.  This  will  be  plain  from 
several  passages,  taken  out  of  this  sermon. 

"There  are  two  laws,  as  well  as  two  kinds  of  righteousness  ; 
a  human  and  a  divine.  One  part  of  the  law  regards  the  inner 
man  alone,  for  we  must  love  God  and  our  neighbor.  But  no 
one  can  fulfill  this  command;  hence  no  one  is  righteous,  be- 
cause God  only  and  He  by  grace,  the  pledge  of  which  is  Christ, 
can  make  us  righteous  through  faith.  The  other  part  of  the 
law  regards  the  external  man  alone,  and  hence  we  may  be  out- 
wardly pious  and  righteous,  and  still  none  the  less  wicked  with- 
in. For  example:  "Thou  shalt  not  steal,"  is  a  command  for 
external  life  and  piety.  "  Thou  shalt  not  covet  the  property  of 
thy  neighbor, "  is  a  command  for  inward,  divine  life  and  right- 
eousness; yet  both  have  respect  to  one  thing,  taking.  So,  if 
one  only  does  not  steal,  he  is  pious  in  the  eyes  of  men,  but  may 
at  the  same  time  be  unjust  before  God;  for  he  has  a  stronger 
desire  and  temptation  perhaps  to  seize  foreign  property,  than 
one  who  has  stolen.  He,  who  does  not  practise  usuiy,  is  pious 
before  men;  for  he  may  be  restrained  by  force  from  doing  it; 
but  nevertheless  he  is  not  pious  before  God;  for  he  must  sell 
all  his  goods  and  give  to  the  poor.  Indeed,  the  rich  man  is 
bound  to  give  to  the  poor,  that  is,  to  God.  But,  though  no 
man  can  ever  fully  attain  this  divine  righteousness,  yet  be- 
lievers have  special  delight  in  conforming  to  it  more  and 
more,  and  the  desire  *is  greater  in  one  than  in  another,  ac- 
cording as  God  has  kindled  his  fire  in  our  hearts;  for  lie  works 
all  things  in  us.  Therefore,  the  divine  righteousness  ought  to 
be  made  known  and  preached  to  all  men  without  ceasing,  else 
godliness  will  vanish,  and  all  men  content  themselves  with 
lame,  human  righteousness,  and  all  righteousness  be  turned  into 
an  allegory;  for  then  no  one  would  respect  God,  but  look  out 


LIFE    OF    ZTVIXGLI.  •  133 

onl}''  as  to  how  lie  might  be  shielded  from  punishment  before 
men,  a3  for  seme  time  back  we  have  grieved  to  see  happen  in 
many  cases.  * 

"  We  have  now  seen,  as  I  hope,  how  widely  the  divine  right- 
eousness differs  from  what  is  merely  human.  Although  this 
human  righteousness  is  not  worthy  to  be  called  a  righteousness, 
yet  we  examine  it  in  comparison  with  that  which  is  divine ;  yet 
has  God  also  commanded  it,  because  he  has  seen  in  our  fallen 
estate,  that  our  temptations  and  desires  could  not  follow  or  do 
his  will.  Christ  tells  us  to  be  obedient  to  this  human  right- 
eousness; for  he  says:  Render  unto  Cassar  the  things  that  are 
Caesar's.  He  does  not  mean  to  say  that  the  whole  world  should 
obey  Caesar,  but  only  that  portion  of  mankind,  which  was  sub- 
ject to  him.  Had  he  found  the  Jewish  nation  under  the  king 
of  Babylon,  he  would  have  spoken  :  Render  unto  the  king  of 
Babylon  what  is  due  to  the  king  of  Babylon.  We  must  under- 
stand this  of  every  several  government.  If  you  live  under  the 
king  of  France,  then  render  to  him  what  is  due  to  him;  and 
so  on,  through  the  whole  catalogue.  '^ 

After  this  strict  separation  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  revealing 
itself  only  in  freedom  and  love ;  and  national  life,  founded  on 
law,  order  and  obedience,  he  refers  interest  and  tithes  to  the 
province  of  severe  human  righteousness.  Beyond  dispute,  it 
would  aid  the  government  in  disposing  of  this  matter;  but  just 
as  resolutely  did  he  warn  against  misuse  in  the  application, 
against  the  encouragement  of  usury,  and  against  the  sanction  of 
unfair  contracts  by  sign  and  seal;  for  though  written  guarantees 
must  be  kept  inviolate  according  to  human  order,  yet  dui-st  you 
as  little  forget  that  the  law  of  kindness   and  Christian   lovo 

*  Or  in  other  words :  Without  religion  the  state  succumbs  to  ma- 
terialism. But  the  prevalence  of  materialism  is  least  consistent  with 
the  welfare  of  a  republic.  THe  freest  state  ought  to  be  the  most 
religious :  the  most  religious  only  durst  be  the  most  free. 

12 


134  •     LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

toward  men  is  written  by  God  himself  in  the  soul.  If  wantonly 
violated,  they  are  waked  up  in  the  end,  and  help  themselves,  in 
spite  of  records  and  parchments.  Then  j^ou  have  the  decree 
and  3'our  own  folly  to  thank  for  it.  ^^This  brief  opinion'' — he 
adds — "I  am  ready  to  maintain  by  the  Holy  Scripture." 

''In  short" — he  concludes — ''the  Divine  AYord  ought  to 
rule  over  all  men,  be  set  before  them  and  truly  made  known; 
for  we  are  bound  to  follow  it.  But  in  this,  the  grace  of  God 
through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  alone  can  aid  our  weakness. 
For  the  more  we  discover  our  guilt,  the  more  we  discover  the 
beauty  and  the  almightiness  of  God,  and  the  love  and  assurance 
of  his  grace,  which  makes  us  more  pious  than  we  can  be  in  any 
other  way.  Besides,  though  some  will  be  found,  who  do  not 
release  the  ungodly  and  unbelievers  from  the  duty  of  living  ac- 
cording to  God's  "Word,  yet  God  has  given  us  also  as  the  lowest 
command,  not  that,  living  only  therein,  we  may  be  pious,  but 
that  human  society  may  be  upheld  and  protected,  and  guardians 
appointed,  who  may  earnestly  look  to  it,  that  the  last  vestige  of 
human  righteousness  also  be  not  swept  away.  Such  guardians 
are  the  powers  that  be,  who  are  no  other  than  they  that  bear 
the  sword,  whom  we  call  worldly  authorities.  These  authorities 
must  not  indeed  trample  on  the  Word  of  God;  for  they  punish 
outward  transgressions  only,  but  cannot  make  righteous  or  un- 
righteous inwardly;  for  that  God  alone  does  in  the  hearts  of 
men." 

The  weight  of  such  language,  uttered  from  the  pulpit  and 
spread  abroad  by  the  press,  bore  heavily  on  those,  who  derived 
advantage  from  the  burdens,  which  prevailing  abuses  heaped 
upon  the  people.  And  the  canons  of  the  Great  Minster  were 
especially  concerned  in  this.  Indeed,  some  were  found  among 
them,  who  not  only  led  a  life  of  idleness,  but  of  debauchery  and 
wanton  dissipation,  and  instead  of  attending  to  divine  worship, 
wont  out  hunting  with  falcons,  leaping  over  the  hedges  of  the 


LIFE    OF    ZWINOLI.  1^0 

farmers,  or  dared  even  to  hold  carousals  in  tlie  sacristy  itself.  * 
It  is  true,  that,  since  Zwingli's  arrival,  they  had  been  obliged  to 
change,  in  so  far  as  scarcely  ever  to  venture  on  such  things  in 
public,  and,  that  the  number  of  those,  who  clearly  perceived 
the  need  of  a  remedy,  was  increasing;  and  at  last  they  induced 
Zwingli,  as  he  had  given  advice,  before  it  would  be  too  late,  to 
stretch  out  a  powerful  hand  for  their  reformation. 

The  result  was,  a  resolution  of  the  monastery  to  bring  the 
matter  to  the  notice  of  the  government,  ^hc  latter  met  them 
with  joy;  and  by  a  commission  from  both  parties,  a  revised 
order  was  prepared,  in  conformity  with  the  progress  of  religious 
knowledge  and  theological  science,  as  it  certainly  agreed  also 
with  the  original  spirit  of  the  foundation,  and  that  of  its  most 
distinguished  patron,  Charlemagne. 

In  the  introduction  of  a  document  relating  to  this  subject, 
drawn  up  on  the  29th  of  September,  1523,  it  mns  thus:  ^'The 
reverend  Clergy,  Provost  and  Chapter  of  the  Monastery  of  St. 
Felix  and  Regula  make  known;  since,  from  a  good  motive,  en- 
couraged thereto  by  the  Divine  Word,  which  lays  open  every- 
thing, they  see  and  acknowledge  the  abuses,  of  which  they  are 
not  the  authors,  having  received  them  by  tradition— with  the 
help  of  God  they  will  exchange  them  for  the  better  rules  of 
a  good  Christian  life,  and  cause  them  to  be  practised  in  another 
and  better  fashion  than  heretofore.  Besides,  they  find  that  the 
common  people,  rich  and  poor,  who  support  them  by  their  toil- 
some labor,  be  it  by  interest  or  tithes,  have  had  indeed  no 
pleasure  in  their  prevailing  customs   and  misusages,  but   felt 

*  The  assailed  could  indeed  appeal,  at  least  for  a  partial  justification 
of  their  love  of  the  chase,  to  an  article  of  their  statutes,  revised  in  the 
year  1346,  according  to  which  and  others,  a  horse,  a  hound,  and  a  fal- 
con or  sparrow-hawk,  for  hunting,  had  to  be  presented  to  the  chaplain 
of  the  foundation,  who  ministered  at  the  annual  festival  in  the  church 
of  Zollikon. 


136  LIFE    OF    Z  WING  LI. 

great  discontent  at  the  manifold  burdens  laid  upon  them. " 
The  improvement  consisted  in   the  remission  of  a  considerable 
sum  of  dues,  which  were  hitherto  drawn  for  ecclesiastical  \mv- 
poses;  in  the  establishment  of  j^rofessorships  for  the  better  edu- 
cation of  the  cler/y;    in  the  greater  dcjnands  made   on   those, 
who  wished  to  come  forth  as  preachers ;  and  in  the  anxiety  mani- 
fested   for  suitable  reliirious   instruction   among  congreii'ations 
under  the  care  of  the  Canonical  Chapter.     Among  the  present 
canons  and  chaplains,  whose  number,  exclusive  of  the  people's 
priest  and  his  assistants,  amounted  to  ()0,  whoever  was  fitted  for 
such   purposes,  him    they  would   commission,  but  suffered  the 
others,  under  pledge,  of  course,  to  lead  a  retired  life  and  attend 
preaching  regularly,  to.  retain  their  benefices   till   death,  when 
their  revenues  were  to  be  transferred   to  the  hospital  and  the 
poor  of  that  congregation,  which  paid  the  tithe  to  the  Chapter. 
But  affairs  had  already  come  to  such  a  pass,  that  even  well- 
meant  and  judicious   changes,  if  not  immediately  carried  out, 
no  longer  gave   satisfaction.     A  wild   zeal  for  innovation  also 
found  vent  in  frequent  brutish  expressions  and  disorderly  scenes. 
If  unpopular  canons  or  chaplains  appeared  at  mass  in  the  church, 
they  were  publicly  derided;  their  chronicles  were  stolen;  leaves 
were  torn  from  a  guide-book  for  the  celebration  of  festivals  put 
up  in  the  choir,  and  then  scattered  at  the  door  of  the  provost's 
house;  and   one  night  the  stocks  and  gallows,  emblems  of  the 
temporal  jurisdiction  of  the  monastery  were  partly  destroyed 
and  partly  erected  in  a  different  place.     By  others  the  lamps 
in  the  Church  of  the  Virgin  were  brokci],  and  the  oil  spilled, 
whilst  they  nuitually  sprinkled  themsiJvcs  with  the  holy  water. 
iSimilar  things  happened  in  St.  Peter's  Church.     In  the  coun- 
try, a  priest  even  ventured  to  read  mass   in   slippers   and  red 
breeches.     They  began  to  call  pictures  idols,  and  the  examples 
of  the  kings  and  prophets  of  the  East,  who  contended  against 
the  idolatry  of  their  age  in  every  possible   way,  were   arrayed 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  137 

as  worthy  of  imitation  before  the  imaginations  of  finatics, 
who  grew  more  excirot',  especially  as  they  became  acquainted 
with  the  Old  Testament.  A  production,  composed  in  this  spirit 
by  Lewis  Ilcetzer,  under  the  title  of  "  Decree  of  God,  as  to  how 
we  ought  to  deal  with  Images,"  was  at  that  time  widely  circulated. 
From  this  disposition  of  mind  proceeded  an  event,  which  at- 
tracted attention  and  aroused  indignation  throughout  the  Con- 
federacy, and  prepared  trouble  for  the  government  in  Zurich. 
Directly  before  the  city,  in  Stadelhofen,  there  stood  on  a  pe- 
destal of  stone,  an  immense  image  of  the  Savior  on  the  Cross, 
carved  out  of  wood.  It  was  put  up  by  one  family,  as  a  monu- 
ment of  devotion,  and  was  now  under  the  care  of  a  miller  dwell- 
ing in  the  neighborhood.  Many  passers-by  still  did  reverence  to 
it.  This  was  a  source  of  great  provocation  to  a  number  of  en- 
thusiasts, who  afterwards  went  over  to  the  Anabaptists,  and  es- 
pecially to  Nicholas  Hottinger,  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  a  man  not 
without  culture,  possessed  of  some  property,  versed  in  the 
Scriptures  and  of  a  decided  character,  which,  in  connection  with 
his  natural  eloquence,  gave  him  great  influence  over  his  asso- 
ciates. It  is  told  of  him,  that  he  offered  a  bucket  of  wine  to 
the  hospital,  if  he  would  be  allowed  to  destroy  the  images  and 
votive  paintings  in  the  Water  Church ;  and  that  he  intended 
to  give  a  banquet  in  honor  of  Zwingli  at  Lindenhof,  amid  a 
large  assembly  of  country-people.  lie  had  often  rebuked  the 
possessor  of  the  crucifix  for  not  casting  away  the  object  of  idola- 
try; he  had  even  done  it  in  presence  of  members  of  the  Coun- 
cil, so  that  the  man  at  last  declared  he  was  tired  of  the  business, 
and  though  he  would  never  do  such  a  thing  himself,  Hottinger 
had  the  privilege  of  doing  it,  as  soon  as  he  had  made  over  to 
him  his  right  to  the  image.  This  was  effected,  and  on  a  clear 
day  Hottinger  came  with  his  companions.  They  threw  down 
the  crucifix,  and  even  digged  out  the  pedestal.  The  wood,  they 
declared  should  go  to  the  poor. 

12* 


138  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Although  the  actors  in  this  scene  appealed  to  the  express 
command  of  God;  although  many  approved  of  the  deed,  and 
even  a  portion  of  the  preachers  spoke  in  their  fjivor  from  the 
pulpit,  it  was  still  in  the  eyes  of  others,  perhaps  of  the  majority, 
especially  beyond  the  canton,  an  act  as  rebellious  as  horrible, 
yea  worthy  of  death ;  and  they  threatened,  in  case  the  perpe- 
trators were  not  dealt  with  in  this  way,  according  to  their  will 
and  confused  ideas,  such  dangerous  consequences,  that  the  gov- 
ernment was  obliged  to  cast  the  so-called  ''Idol  Stormers"  into 
prison  for  a  while.  The  result  of  an  investigation,  conducted 
in  common  with  the  three  people's  priests,  convinced  the  Coun- 
cil, that  the  quieting  of  the  people,  and  the  introduction  of 
rules  of  law  for  the  abrogation  of  customs,  which  were  no  longer 
tenable,  could  only  be  looked  for,  in  the  way  of  a  conference,  as 
public  and  thorough  as  possible,  on  the  doctrine  of  Scripture  con- 
cerning images  and  the  mass  also,  as  connected  with  this  subject. 

Hence  the  collective  clergy  and  laity  of  the  canton  were  in- 
vited, in  case  they  were  ready  to  throw  any  light  on  the  subject, 
to  appear  at  the  council-house  on  the  2Gth  of  October.  Similar 
invitations  were  sent  to  the  bishops  of  Constance,  Chur  and 
Basel,  as  well  as  to  the  University  at  the  latter  place,  to  the 
twelve  Cantons  of  the  Confederacy,  and  to  the  city  and  abbot  of 
St.  Gall. 

The  call  of  Zurich  for  the  first  religious  conference,  nine 
months  before,  had  scarcely  been  heeded  by  her  sisters  of  the 
Confederacy.  But  now  this  actual  invitation  was  received  in  a 
different  manner.  With  the  exception  of  Schaffhausen,  no 
canton,  it  is  true,  ventured  to  comply  with  it  formally;  but 
from  the  answers,  yet  to  be  quoted,  it  may  be  gathered  that, 
having  generally  deliberated  over  the  matter,  they  were  decid- 
cilly  averse  to  the  proposal.  Bern,  and,  by  her  advice,  Solo- 
thuru  also,  declined  the  invitation,  with  the  prayer,  that  it 
might  not  be  taken  ill  on  their  part;  but  as  injury  as  well  ben- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  130 

efit  could  grow  out  of  cveuts  of  this  kind,  not  to  a  single  canton 
merely,  but  to  the  whole  Confederacy,  the  general  interest 
ouffht  to  have  induced  them  to  confer  beforehand  in  common 
about  the  topics  to  be  treated  of,  as  well  as  about  those  who  were 
to  be  invited  to  the  conference.  The  invitation  made  a  disa- 
greeable impression  on  Luzern.  "You  inform  us" — so  runs 
the  letter  from  this  city — ''that  C|uarrels  and  ill-will  about 
spiritual  things  are  rife  among  you.  This  we  are  sorry  to  hear, 
and  still  more  sorry  that  joii  have  not  rooted  them  up  long  ago, 
for  which  neither  right  nor  might  were  wanting;  and  even  ha 
it  been  so,  we  as  pious  Christians  would  have  willingly  lent 
you  aid.  Now  you  invite  us  to  a  conference;  but  along  with 
our  clergy,  whom  we  think  pious,  we  have  found  in  spiritual 
and  temporal  affairs,  that  such  insignificant  assemblies  are 
wholly  unfit  to  deal  with  matters  pertaining  to  faith.  We  do 
not  wish  to  attack  images,  far  less  the  mass,  upon  which  our 
whole  faith  is  founded.  We  wish  to  tread  in  the  footsteps  of 
our  fathers — to  stand  by  that,  which  we  have  inherited  from 
them  and  been  taught  by  them;  for  we  do  not  regard  them  as 
seducers,  but  sainted  and  pious  people.  We  are  willing  also  to 
have  abuses  put  away;  but  by  them  to  whom  it  belongs.  There- 
fore we  send  no  one,  and  beg  you  to  accept  our  reasons  in  the 
best  spirit." 

Still  more  bitter  was  the  refusal  of  Obwalden:  "To  serve  you 
we  are  at  all  times  ready.  But  now  you  invite  our  learned  men 
to  you.  Hence  we  speak  thus :  We  have  no  particularly  learned 
people  amongst  us;  only  pious,  reverend  priests,  who  expound 
to  us  the  Gospel  and  the  other  Holy  Scriptures,  as  they  were 
expounded  to  our  forefathers;  in  which  we  will  trust  as  long 
as  we  live,  unless  the  Pope  or  a  Council  revoke  the  doctrine, 
and  arc  ready  to  suffer  death  therefor.  We  also  can  not  bring 
ourselves  to  believe  that  the  Lord  God  has  given  more  grace  to 
Zwingli,  than  to  the  dear  saints  and   teachers,  who  have  suf- 


140  LIFE   OF    ZWTXGLI. 

fered  martyrdom  and  death  for  the  faith.  We  can  not  see 
that  he  leads  such  a  spiritual  life,  nay,  that  he  is  rather  in- 
clined to  disturbance,  than  to  peace  and  quiet.  Therefore  we 
desire  to  send  no  one  to  him,  nor  to  any  like  him.  Indeed, 
if  we  had  him,  and  would  find  that  tnie,  which  is  told  us  about 
him,  we  would  give  him  such  a  reward,  that  he  would  never  do 
it  again.'' 

Basel,  where  Zwingli's  intimate  friend  CEcolampadius  (  Haus- 
schein  )  was  now  a  preacher,  and  in  the  year  following  became 
a  professor,  returned  no  answer.  The  University  looked  with 
disdain  on  popular  theological  conferences,  where  unlearned 
men  even  usurped  the  seat  of  judgment,  and  the  Council  found 
itself  embarrassed  between  the  friends  of  the  old  order  and  the 
new.     Zurich  complained  of  its  silence. 

The  Bishop  of  Constance,  in  two  successive  letters,  asked,  ac- 
cording to  his  former  practice,  for  the  reference  of  such  an  im- 
portant 23oint  to  a  Church  Council;  he  would  be  pledged,  so  to 
speak,  ^'  for  both  his  superiors  ( the  Emperor  and  the  Pope  ), 
from  the  answers  and  commands  received  from  them  in  similar 
cases.''  In  the  same  strain  wrote  the  truly  venerable  and  aged 
Bishop  of  Basel,  with  the  addition:  ''although  we  are  otherwise 
inclined  with  our  whole  heart  to  favor  you  in  all  possible  things 
(  God  knows  ),  because  we  are  not  unmindful  of  the  many  deeds 
of  kindness  shown  to  ourselves  and  our  monastery,"  From  the 
Diocesan  at  Chur  no  reply  was  received.  The  Abbot  of  St. 
Gall  excused  himself  on  account  of  the  shortness  of  the  time, 
which  did  permit  him  to  obtain  instructions.  From  the  city 
on  the  contrary,  appeared,  along  with  Vadianus  the  friend  of 
Zwingli's  youth,  who  three  years  after  rose  to  the  dignity  of  bur- 
gomaster there,  the  pastor  Benedict  Burgauer  and  Doctor 
Schapeler.  Doctor  Sebastian  Ilofmeister,  the  people's  priest 
Martin  Steinlin  and  Conrad  Irmensee,  trustee  of  the  monastery 
of  All  Saints,  arrived  from  Schafi'hausen. 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  1^' 

Of  the  course,  the  natarc  and  the  results  of  the  thcologieal 
investigations,  during  the  three  days  devoted  to  this  conference, 
enou-^h  can  be  learned  from  ehureh-history.-      Our  task  ,s  to 
describe  the  carriage  and  behavior  of  the  persons  engage^  ui  i  . 
Thov  seem  to  divide  themselves  into  two  main  classes  of  a  bet- 
ter stamp,  and  one  of  a  worse;  the  most  prominent  speakers 
were  Zwingli,  Conrad  Schmied,  commander  of   the  Knights 
of  St    John   at   Kuessnacht,  and    Conrad   Grebel.     A  reck- 
less treatment,  an  absolute   rejection  of   all,   that  could   not 
be  proven  before   the  tribunal  of  Scripture-interpretation  eon- 
ducted  by  the  natural  understanding,  marked  the  character  of 
one  class ;  a  sparing  of  the  weak,  cautious  progress  and  a  honw  of 
tearin.v  down  anything,  before  it  could  be  built  up  again,  marked 
that  of  the  second.     Bolder,  springing  more  from  the  immedi- 
ate wants  of  the  age,  more  politic  were  the  views  of  the  first;  mil- 
der,  more  accordant  with  nature,  better  agreeing  with  the  spirit 
of  Christianity,  were  those  of  the  second.     Still   Zwingh  was 
not  lacking  in  feeling,  nor  Schmied  in  understanding      Hence 
rhev,  and  their  friends  likewise,  mutually  comprehended  each 
othe^  and  united  in  their  opposition  to  the  third  class,  m  which, 
under  Grebel's  guidance,  only  the  impure  elements  of  stormy 

'^Becre'trt  were  now  only  two,  though  very  important, 
points  of  discussion,  this  conference  was  more  lively  and  an. 
mated  than  the  one  preceding.  The  decisive  action  to  be  taken 
in  rec^ard  to  iinaaes,  held  in  suspense  the  multitude  of  those, 
X^rude  devotions  were  made  up  of  genuflcetions  faith  m 
Piracies,  and  the  observance  of  external  rites,  whi  st  on  the 
Tth  r  h-d,  the  thoughtful  and  sensible  turned  tl^eir  attentmn 
rather  to  the  examinations  on   the  mass,  which  was  without 

~rs.t,,factory  explanations  of  them  are  given  by  THr.  in  bis  Swiss 
CUurcli  History,  continued  by  Kirchhofn,  \  ol.  V.  p.  lo--. 


142  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

doubt  the  basis  of  the  prevailing  worsbip.  This  assembly 
drew  together  a  far  greater  niiinber  than  the  first,  held  in  the 
befrinnino;  of  the  yeiir,  and  in  order  that  digression  to  irrelevant 
subjects  might  not  be  possible,  and  that  the  management  might 
not  be  attributed  to  a  faction  of  Zurichers,  Vadianus  and  Scha- 
peler  of  St.  Grall,  along  with  Doctor  Hofmeister  of  Schaffhausen, 
were  chosen  as  presidents. 

Rigidly  did  they  adhere  to  the  rule  of  order  laid  down  for 
them  by  the  burgomaster,  to  suffer  no  replies  to  pass  which 
were  not  sustained  by  the  very  language  of  the  Bible,  and  Hof- 
meister particularly'  ordered  silence  and  the  disuse  of  certain  ex- 
pressions, which  few  in  our  times  would  not  admit  as  substan. 
tially  true,  although  according  to  the  nature  of  things  they 
could  not  be  proven  by  the  bare  letter  of  Holy  Scripture. 

At  first,  the  debate  concerning  the  adoration  of  images  pro- 
ceeded without  much  strife.  The  unscriptural  character  of  the 
practice  was  universally  acknowledged.  Only  in  appearance, 
or  in  order  to  pave  the  way  for  discussion,  Gregory  Luethy, 
pastor  in  Winterthur,  raised  some  objections,  but  was  supported 
by  no  one.  The  word  ^'idolater/'  which  they  were  so  ready  to 
use,  carried  terror  on  all  sides. 

The  canon  Edlebach,  wdiilst  granting  all  such  veneration  to 
be  superstitious,  was  still  anxious  to  preserve  at  least  figurative 
representations  of  noble  deeds,  because  "he  thought  they 
charai  us  to  imitation. " — "This  is  a  use" — answered  Zwingli 
— "which  is  no  use  to  mr.;  bring  the  Divine  Scripture  for  it. 
God  has  forbidden  us  to  be  charmed  by  any  one  save  Him 
alone  and  His  Word.  Besides,  when  we  have  them,  they  will 
be  honored  and  esteemed  as  helpers.  And  that  is  at  all  points 
against  Christ  and  His  Word. " 

The  severity  of  this  answer  the  canon  attributed  perhaps  to 
the  circumstance,  that  he  was  known  as  a  secret  adversary 
of  the  Reformer,  when  one  of  his  friends  and  admirers  also  rose 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  1  i-) 

np,  not  indeed  for  the  defence  of  images,  but  to  put  in  a  plea 
for  their  merciful  treatment  and  impartial  estimation. 

This  was  Commander  Schmied.  Let  us  dwell  a  while  upon  a 
character  so  full  of  interest.  Son  of  a  countryman  from  the 
village  of  Kuessnacht,  set  apart  for  study  on  account  of  his 
natural  gifts,  he  came  to  Basel,  where  he  remained  till  the  ripe 
ao-e  of  manhood,  and  found  himself  clothed  with  academical 
honors.  Then  he  was  chosen  peojjle's  priest  at  Seengen,  and 
unanimously  by  the  Knights  of  St.  John  at  Kucssuacht  for  their 
commander,  in  1519.  Vv^e  know  that  he  here  won  universal 
respect,  sought  to  promote  religion  and  science,  and  in  the 
spirit,  which  animated  the  founders  of  this  Order  of  Knight- 
hood, joined  a  sincere  and  active  benevolence  with  courage, 
honor  and  morality.  Even  his  external  appearance  was  dignified 
and  engaging. 

As  the  truth  of  the  Gospel  was  sacred  to  him,  so  the  spirit 
of  love  lived  in  him,  that  spirit  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
which  is  eternal,  whilst  the  letter  bears  the  stanip  of  the  age 
from  v/hich  it  came — the  character  of  the  men,  by  v/hom  it  was 
written;  that  spirit  makes  alive,  whilst  the  letter  kills. 

A  shrewd  observer,  having  the  confidence  of  the  country- 
people  living  under  him,  he  had  heard  many  peculiar  expres- 
sions about  the  much-talked-of  image-question,  and  looked  as 
deep  into  weak  as  into  stronger  hearts.  Why  should  the 
nobler  end  be  done  away  also  with  the  abuse?  How  had  an 
elevation  to  the  reign  of  pure  ideas  suddenly  become  possible 
for  thousands,  whose  feelings  heretofore  could  only  be  wrought 
upon  through  the  medium  of  the  senses?  Was  then  the  zeal 
so  pure,  which  glowed  in  the  bosoms  of  the  stormy  fanatics, 
who  with  axe  and  hatchet  overthrew  without  discrimination  tlie 
ornaments  of  churches  and  the  grotesque  creations  of  super.-^ti- 
tion,*  and  before  whose  gloomy  looks  the  most  delicate  wurks 
•^-  In  St.  Gall,  for  instance,  forty  wagouloads  of  tlie  ruins  of  wood- 


1-U  LIFE    OF    ZVriNGLI. 

of  art,  from  which  the  grandeur  of  innocence  and  the  blessed- 
ness of  love  beamed  down  upon  them,  found  no  mercy? 

Hence  Schmicd  said :  '^  Let  us  first  put  away  the  idols  in 
our  hearts,  through  the  preaching  of  the  Divine  Word,  before 
we  begin  to  rattle  on  the  outside.  Pictures  are  the  staves  of 
the  weak,  which  we  dare  not  take  away,  until  we  have  given 
them  strength  to  walk  without.  Paul  too  did  not  assail  the 
gods  and  statues  of  the  Athenians,  but  strove  to  erect  in  their 
hearts  a  temple  to  the  invisible  God,  convinced  that  then  idola- 
try would  fall  away  of  itself.  In  general,  we  ought  not  to  pro- 
voke anger  without  necessity;  and  not  everything  that  happens 
amongst  us  springs  from  a  pure  love  of  the  truth.  Such  things 
work  injuriously  in  the  Confederacy.  We  are  told  the  Confed- 
erates should  not  be  our  God.  But  yet  they  are  Christian 
people,  and  for  that  reason  we  ought  to  spare  them. '' 

AVho,  in  our  times,  will  not  approve  of  this  mild  speech?  And 
to  what  do  the  Protestants  of  this  19th  century  owe  it,  that 
they  can  hold  these  views  peacefully?  that  no  faith  of  the  letter 
drives  them  to  a  renunciation  of  innocent  feelings,  to  unright- 
eous, repulsive  severity,  and  to  a  stiff  and  wanton  tyranny 
of  creeds,  such  as  meets  us  in  the  17th  century?  To  the  pro- 
gress of  science  alone — science,  which  teaches  how  to  distin- 
guish between  the  letter  and  the  spirit — science,  which  the 
coward  only  fears,  which  he,  who  knows  her  not,  only  can  ca- 
lumniate. 

But  how  very  f;ir  in  the  rear  was  such  science  in  Zwingli's 
age !     Philology,  history,  an  enlarged  knowledge  of  nature  and 

en  images  -were  carried  to  the  swamps  and  burnt  there.  *'  Every  body 
fell  upon  the  idols.  We  tore  them  from  the  altar,  the  walls  and  the 
pillars.  The  altars  were  beaten  down,  the  idols  split  to  pieces  with 
axes,  or  smashed  by  hammers.  You  woxild  have  thought  it  a  field  of 
battle.  What  a  noise !  what  a  breaking !  what  an  echoing  in  the  lofty 
ceiling !  "     Kosslcr. 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  145 

geography — what  light  have  they  not  since  furnished  for  the 
explanation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures!  AVith  what  wonderful 
rapidity  the  results  of  scientific  investigation,  universally  intel- 
ligible, are  poured  out  by  an  unfettered  press  among  the  multi- 
tude !  Questions  must  now  be  started,  can  not  he  hcpt  hark, 
on  which  nobody  then,  or  at  least  a  very  few,  ever  thought;  and 
if  three  centuries  ago  a  knowledge  of  grammar  only  was  needed 
for  the  interpretation  of  Scripture,  there  is  now  need  of  philos- 
ophy also. 

Still,  in  a  book  designed  for  general  information,  we  cannot 
enter  deeply  into  what  is  scientific.  It  is  enough  to  shew 
plainly,  that  Zwingli  must  not  be  judged  by  the  ideas  of  our 
age,  if  in  the  discussion  about  images  he  opposed  his  friend 
Schmied. 

In  the  noble  feelings  of  the  latter  he  shared,  but  surpassed 
Lim,  in  a  just  appreciation  of  the  age  and  its  immediate  wants, 
and  in  the  logical  carrying  out  of  a  well-weighed  system.  Only 
hj  holding  firmly  to  the  very  language  of  Holy  Scripture 
could  he  keep  his  ground  against  his  numerous  opponents,  for 
only  thus  far  were  his  hearers  able  to  follow  him.  We  will  see 
hereafter  what  difficulties  he  prepared  for  himself,  when,  in- 
stead of  clinging  to  the  letter  in  explaining  the  words  of  the 
eucharist,  he  yielded  to  a  freer  spirit. 

''Well  has  my  lord  and  brother  said" — so  Zwingli  answered 
Schmied' s  objections — "that  we  ought  to  put  away  the  false 
images  in  our  hearts  by  the  preaching  of  God's  Word.  I  hope 
too  that  Leo  and  I  have  not  been  negligent  in  this;  but  he 
has  spoken  ill,  when  he  calls  images  ''the  staves  of  the  weak." 
Where  is  there  any  passage  of  this  sort  in  the  Holy  Scripture  ? 
But  we  are  to  follow  its  plain  language.  And  it  is  clear  as 
day,  that  it  permits  no  images,  least  of  all  those  of  gold  and 
silver,  of  whoso  value  poverty  is  deprived.  ^' 

Hofmeister  also  thought,  that,  according  to  the  commission 


IIG  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

he  had  received,  he  must  admonish  the  commander  to  contend 
only  with  Scripture.  The  hitter,  from  respect  to  the  order  of 
the  government,  did  not  prolong  the  colloquy. 

So  decided  was  Zwingli's  victory,  so  general  the  aversion  to 
meet  him,  that  a  whole  troop  of  those,  who  were  enemies,  car- 
pers and  boasters  behind  his  back,  now  became  silent  in  hia 
presence,  when  called  by  name.  The  manner  in  which  some 
tried  to  get  out  of  the  affair  was  quite  characteristic.  This  one 
played  the  part  of  an  injured  man,  and  growled  out,  that  no 
body  had  a  right  to  ask  him  as  long  as  he  kept  his  peace;  that 
one  naively  declared,  that  he  had  believed  the  old,  but  now  he 
must  believe  the  new;  a  third,  that  he  would  teach  nothing 
bad,  that  he  could  understand  neither  Greek  nor  Hebrew,  and 
it  were  well  if  these  languages  had  never  come  into  the  country; 
a  fourth,  that  he  could  not  fight,  his  sword  having  been  broken 
off  at  the  hilt;  the  [rior  of  the  Augustinians  said,  that  he 
could  give  answer  any  moment  from  the  Papal  Decrees,  and  if 
he  was  not  able  to  do  it,  then  he  would  stand  there  like  any 
other  "cowled  pate;'^  and  the  rest  in  a  similar  strain. 

Thus  the  fate  of  images  "was  decided  by  an  easy  battle. 
"This  has  been  child's  play," — ;said  Zwingli — "but  now  we 
come  to  a  more  important  matter." 

Here  again  we  must  be  reminded,  that  it  belongs  to  the 
province  of  theology,  not  history,  to  show  in  what  nearer  or 
more  remote  connection  the  doctrine  of  the  mass,  as  then  laid 
down  and  practised  by  the  Church,  stands  with  the  declarations 
of  Holy  Scripture.  It  is  enough  to  remark,  that  it  rests  upon 
the  idea,  so  deeply  rooted  in  the  Imman  spirit,  of  the  duty  of 
sacrifice.  But  what  is  true  sacrifice?  At  bottom,  nothing  else 
than  offering  up  to  Him,  from  whom  we  have  everything  and  by 
whom  we  are.  In  such  offering — in  offering  at  the  same  time 
from  the  purest  love  for  man,  Christ  has  gone  before  us  all. 
That  the  perpetual  presence  of  his  sacrifice,  thGtcfore,  must 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  147 

strengtiien  us  in  faith  and  love,  we  all  agree.  But  then  tbere 
is  a  difference  between  the  sensuous  a-nd  the  spiritual  apprehen- 
sion of  the  fact.  Zwingli  taught  that  Christ  offering  himself 
must  not  be  looked  for  in  a  host  made  of  meal,  but  in  his  liv- 
ing image,  the  helper  of  the  needy.  "  He  who  receives  one  of 
these,  receives  me  " — so  lie  himself  once  said.  This  was  the 
plain,  practical  view,  which  Zwingli  maintained  not  only  in  this 
Conference,  but  in  his  whole  system  of  doctrine  also. 

This  practical  view  has  for  centuries  now  exerted  its  influ- 
ence amongst  us,  and  with  whatever  reason  we  may  be  censured 
for  other  things — that  there  is  a  sense  of  active  benevolence 
amongst  us  can  never  be  denied.  Here,  Zurich,  hold  firm ! 
Here  is  thy  rock  !  May  thy  Church  lean  on  it  with  wisdom, 
in  youthful  strength !  Then  need  she  dread  neither  time,  nor 
science,  nor  Jacobins,  nor  Jesuists.  Religion,  that  flower  of 
life,  has  its  root  neither  in  the  vague  dreams  of  the  rustic,  nor 
in  the  naked  formulas  of  the  philosopher,  but  in  noble,  unpre- 
tending acts.  Here  the  real  and  the  ideal,  the  beautiful  and 
the  time  meet  for  their  eternally  necessary  mutual  strengthen- 
ing and  purification.  * 

Owing  to  the  nature  of  the  subject,  tha  Conference  assumed 
a  more  peaceful  and  scientific  cast,  and  at  times  became  quite 
familiar.  Even  Zwingli,  especially  after  the  commander 
Schmied   had  again  sj^oken   in  his  mild,  conciliatory  manner, 

*  For  scioitific  readers :  Neither  mysticism  and  pietism,  nor  dog-ma- 
tism  alone  are  able  to  sustain  the  Protestant  churches.  Mysticism 
and  pietism  yield  to  mo.re  consistent  Catholicism  ;  dogmatism,  without 
symbolical  books,  which  lose  their  authority  where  the  preSvS  is  free, 
succumbs  to  philosophy.  The  simple  eternal  dogma  of  Christ  stands : 
By  its  fruit  shall  ye  know  the  tree.  The  time  will  yet  come,  when  all 
who  practically  reverence  this  dogma,  will  form  the  one,  universal 
church,  and  all  others,  be  they  marked  with  the  cross  or  protests 
agninst  it,  the  no-church.  For  this  no  revolution  is  needed,  not  even 
much  change  in  forms.     It  will  come  from  within. 


148  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

confessed  to  his  most  perseyering  opponent,  Steinlin,  people's 
priest  at  Schaffhausen,  that  he  had  learned  much  from  him, 
and  desired,  that,  if  severe  expressions  sometimes  fell  from  his 
lips,  they  should  not  be  laid  too  much  to  heart.  "Many" — 
said  he — "there  are,  who  catch  up  only  the  bitter  things  said 
by  me,  and  so  too  it  happens  with  that  learned  gentleman, 
Martin  Luther,  whom  they  are  willing  to  imitate  in  naught, 
save  the  sharpness  of  his  language,  which  nevertheless  he  often 
utters  out  of  true,  ardent  love ;  but  the  pious,  faithful  heart 
and  its  struft'des  after  truth,  remain  unnoticed/' 

The  earliest  traces  of  a  fire,  which  afterwards  broke  out  de- 
structively, began  to  appear  first  on  the  evening  of  the  second 
day.  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  Conrad  Grebel, 
Zwingli's  previous  friend  and  admirer,  and  also  of  his  father, 
the  councilor  Jacob  Grebel.  The  history  of  this  family,  truly 
told,  would  be  a  warning  for  all,  who  expect  from  the  chances 
of  fortune  that  happiness,  which  is  only  to  be  found  in  con- 
tentment and  a  pure  conscience.  A  skillful  man  of  business, 
frequently  employed  in  the  afi'airs  of  Zurich  and  the  Confeder- 
acy, the  father  had  formed  extensive  connections.  His  house 
in  Zurich  was  always  open  to  the  ambassadors  of  foreign  princes 
and  distinguished  allies;  in  consequence  of  which  his  expenses 
gradually  became  greater  than  his  income.  His  sons  and 
daughters  grew  up.  Their  welfare  and  that  of  the  family  was 
sought  in  splendid  living.  The  elder  daughter  became  prioress 
of  the  convent  of  QEdenbach ;  the  younger,  at  a  later  period,  the 
wife  of  Vadianus;  she  was  the  most  fortunate  of  the  children, 
the  only  one  happy  till  a  ripe  old  age.  One  of  the  sous  entered 
the  service  of  the  Archduke  Ferdinand  as  a  gentleman  of  the 
bed-chamber;  the  other,  Conrad,  lived  at  Vienna  and  Paris  on 
sums  of  money,  which  the  father  knew  how  to  obtain  from  the 
Emperor,  the  King  of  France,  and  Duke  Sforza  of  Milan.  His 
extravagance  aided  not  a  little  in  the  ruin  of  the  family.     More 


14Q 

LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 


and  more  the  father  put  himself  under  dangerous  ohligations  to 
tranZs      He  did  it  too,  after  the  penalty  of  deaA  had  been 
aW  to  the  taking  of  foreign  pensions.     Already  had  one  sou 
b!en  disnxissed  fro^  the  service  of  the  Archduke  and  Conrad 
returned  ho,ue  in  shattered  health  and  burdened  ^A  d  b  . 
The  convent  at  CEdenbach  was  broken  up;  the  mother  to - 
"ented  by  sickness,  domestic  calamities  and  her  own  passionate 
Ti       ition,  increased  the  general  misery.     Then  the  br.hco^  o 
the  father  came  to  light,  and  an  old  man,  with  snow-wh.t 
i  he  ended  his  days  on  the  scaffold,  in  1526.     His  dignified 
bell  vior,  when  led  to  the  block,  excited  universal  pity.     Some 
'::;:  Wore  he  had  begged  the  ^^^^^^J^^^ 
,.,ined  son,  the  chief  cause  of  his  misfortunes.  •    J^^J^^f^^ 
he  would  not  do  it.     What  value  would  a  longer  life  have  had 
in  view  of  such  a  downfall !  „         ,.  ,i     r     m  , 

We  have  anticipated,  in  order  to  show  the  fate  of  the  f^imily 
in  its  eouneetion;  the  thread  of  our  story  now    eads  us  back  to 
Conrad.     To  no  common  abilities  he  had  joined  industry  anda 
tWrst  for  learning  in  his  earlier  youth,  and  knew  how  to  gam 
i      0    -S  of'-Zwingli  and  Vadianus.     Many   letters     ear 
witness  of  the  friendly  relations  in  which  he  s  ood  toward  b  th 
but  his  character  gradually  became  worse  and  he  co^Jd  not  es 
cape  the  never-failing  conseciuenecs  of  debaucheiy.     ^ot  the 
3y   only,   but   the  spirit  also,   sinks   under    them.     Peace 
vanfshes  from  the  soul;    insight  into  the  ^pl-- f /"  ^  ^^ 
the  relations  of  life  grows  dim.     Still,  at  times  a  nobler  fe  Ung 
awoke  within  him;  he  acknowledged  the  justice  of  his  suffer- 
ings, bewailed  his  folly  and  strove  to  break  loose  from  his  feters ; 
buVthen  again  he  would  accuse  others,  especially  his  father. 
How  severe  and  dreadful  is  the  language  which  he  uses  m  a 
letter  to  Vadianus:  "My  father  would  discover  my  ci-ime  if 
the  beam  in  his  own  eye  did  not  hinder  him  from  seeing  the 
'~^'\Vhy  ?  ^vill  be  seen  hereafter.  y^^ 


150  LIFE  or  Z-WirsGLI. 

mote  in  mine.  He  does  not  know  what  I  have  had  to  suffer  ou 
his  accountj  since  he  first  caused  me  to  be  fed  by  the  Emperor 
and  then  by  the  King  of  France.  Had  he  taught  me  to  get 
along  with  a  small  patrimony  according  to  the  national  custom; 
had  he  not  wished  me  to  soar  higher,  as  my  wings  grew,  in  the 
track  of  his  other  son,  then  would  I  not  be  troubled,  when  the 
betrayers  of  the  fatherland  are  cursed,  lest  my  father  should  be 
included  among  them  ;  then  would  I  not,  when  such  are  spoken 
of,  grow  now  red  with  shame  and  now  pale  with  fear,  lest  they 
should  say  my  father  was  a  French  hireling;  then  would  I  not  be 
irritated ;  then  would  I  not  be  compelled  to  tremble  for  a  speedy 
discovery;  then  would  I  not  have  to  think  of  resitution;  then 
perhaps  had  I  never  bartered  my  freedom  for  gold  and  my  honor 
for  sordid  metal.  The  King  flays  his  people  and  snatches  the 
food  from  their  mouths  like  a  wolf,  that  he  may  adorn  his  person 
and  fare  sumptuously,  and  would  have  once  been  able  to  bring 
me  to  God  knows  what,  if  my  native  city  had  raised  me  to 
honor  and  dignity.  0  that  it  were  granted  me,  to  plunge  from 
this  misery  into  another,  or  to  escape  both,  and  reach  the  shore 
from  the  wreck  in  a  happier  hour !  Is  this  denied  me  ?  then 
do  I  set  myself  against  fate  and  the  gods  and  will  brave  the 
torture,  till  their  wrath  is  satiated  in  my  grave.  Glad  am  1 
that  the  plague,  which  still  spared  many,  during  the  past  au- 
tumn, has  broken  out  here  again  in  the  course  of  this  month  !^' 
Thus,  Zwingli's  labors  in  Zurich  began  to  stir  up  base  ele- 
ments, along  with  what  were  truly  noble  and  pure.  People, 
who  were  lacking  in  means  to  rise,  and  often  justly  low  in  pub- 
lic esteem,  now  called  out  likewise  for  change,  so  that  their  old 
incapacity,  or  their  old  sins,  might  be  forgotten.  The  deeper  the 
agitation,  the  more  they  hoped  to  gain.  Then  already  Grebel 
was  numbered  among  them;  the  better  spirit  had  wholly  for- 
saken him.  Others  of  a  like  stamp  clustered  around  him.  To 
stand  with  Zwingli  they  would  have  needed  purer  morals,  more 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  l''^- 


labor  of  the  laind,  .u>d  above  all  self-denial.  This  would  net 
do  for  them.  They  nrast  outstrip  him  therefore,  in  order  to  gam 
their  end  the  more  (luickly.  . 

It  has  already  been  remarked,  that  the  first  traees  of  thetr 
di.,turbins  iufluence  appeared  at  the  elose  of  the  d.sputat.on 
Lame,  frivolous  were  the  questions  ^>'°'^' -"«  ^^'T    ^kind 
administration  of  the  Supper,  the  form  of  the  bread,  the  k  nd 
.s  how  it  ou"ht  to  be  brought  to  the  mouth,  the  time  of  taking 
J  whlh  Gi^hel  started-diffieulties  that  he  would  find  every- 
where;    then,  supported  ehiefly  by  Simon   Stumpf,  peoije  s 
liest  at  Ho.no-..,  he  impugned  the  right  of  the  government  to 
^r^dinrne^sl  all  evidently  designed  to  produee  an  excite- 
rnt,to  rouse  'the  spirit  of  seet,  to  -'^o  him. If  a  party^ 
With  generous  forbearanee  Zwingli  answered  him,  but  here 
a.    n  Conrad  Sehmied  spoke  out  against  fanatieism  and  a  rage 
?  A  .t™  tion      He  brought  the  insurgents  to  silenee,  and  then 
^:e"trd;Uv?r  an  -P^e  diseourse  on  *e  need  o« 
Ltruction,  whieh  met  with  general  approbation.     His  spiritual 


nilnion  and  honor.  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^g. 

•^^^riirfirmt'theGospeU^^^ 
gmg  all  to  ho  cl  arm  i  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^^^.^^ 


152  LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI. 

cheerfully  will  I,  if  need  be,  lay  down  my  life  for  it.  They 
may  kill  the  body,  but  the  soul  they  can  not  kill.  The  Scrip- 
ture ought  never  to  be  used  for  quarrelling,  or  display,  but  for 
the  improvement  of  our  lives,  and  if  perchance  I  have  spoken 
too  harshly  to  any  one,  during  the  present  Conference,  I  ask 
his  forgiveness.'^  Zwingli  did  the  same.  The  presidents  now 
laid  down  their  office  with  a  petition  for  Ilottinger  and  the 
other  prisoners,  in  which  the  Abbott  of  Cappel,  the  Comman- 
der of  Kuessnacht  and  the  Provost  of  the  Great  Minster  joined. 
The  issue  of  this  Conference  formed  a  new  epoch  for  Zurich. 
The  government  prudently  resolved  to  do  nothing  rashly,  to 
change  nothing  suddenly.  Even  images  and  relics  should  not 
be  taken  from  the  churches  for  a  while,  yet,  where  it  was  pos- 
sible, covered,  locked  up,  but  in  no  case  iujui'ed.  He,  who 
wished  to  read  mass,  or  to  assist  in  the  reading,  was  permitted 
once  more  to  do  so.  The  rules  of  fasting  also  were  to  be  ob- 
served; but  the  Great  Council  had  already  put  forth  the  decla- 
ration, that  in  spiritual  affairs  it  would  henceforth  be  the  court 
of  decision  with  the  advice  of  the  people's  priest,  or  hishoj)s,  as 
it  styled  the  pastors  of  the  coDgregatious  in  a  public  document.* 
Ilottinger,  on  account  of  his  rash  conduct,  was  banished  from 
the  canton  for  two  years,  and  Lorenz  Hochruetiner,  who  with 
foolish  obstinacy  had  repeated  the  act,  for  life.  Several  asso- 
ciates of  these  ''Idol  Stormers''  had  to  lay  down  considerable 
sums  as  bail  for  their  peaceful  behavior.  Simon  Stumpf, 
people's  priest  at  Hocngg,  whose  name  occurs  above,  was  obliged 
to  leave  the  country,  till  permission  for  his  return  could  be 
granted,  ''on  account  of  his  rough  sermons,  speeches  and  other 
things  he  had  done,  f 

*  In  tlie  "Advice  concerning  Images  and  the  Mass." 
f  The   contradictions  in  the   character   and  behavior  of  this  man, 
■who  -was  rather  eccentric    than  morally  corrupt,  are  well  depicted  in 
Kirchofcr's  Continuation  of  Wirz^s  Church  History,  Part  II.  p.  222. 


LIFE   or   ZWINCiLI  153 

The  most  pressing  want^  just  then,  was  the  instruction  of  the 
ignorant  priests  of  the  people.  Hence,  by  order  of  the  govern- 
ment, Zwiugli  prepared  a  small  book,  under  the  title  of  '^Chris- 
tian Introduction,''  in  which  the  chief  articles  of  evangelical 
doctrine,  and  founded  on  these,  a  decision  against  the  former 
dogmas  and  practices  of  the  Church  were  brought  together  in 
the  plainest  possible  language.  This  was  placed  in  the  hands 
of  all  the  preachers  in  the  canton,  with  the  summons  to  adhere 
to  this  pattern  in  their  discourses.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
sent  to  the  governments  of  the  collective  states,  to  the  bishops 
of  the  Confederacy  and  to  the  University  of  Basel,  with  the  re- 
quest that  it  might  be  tested  and  refuted,  if  it  contained  any 
points  at  war  with  the  Gospel.  The  government,  it  is  to  be 
observed,  had  made  up  its  mind  to  wait  a  full  half  year  tor 
refutations,  and  then,  if  nothing  arrived,  to  proceed  to  the  re- 
moval of  abuses,  and  the  introduction  of  a  new  church-order. 

The  reformation  of  the  state  kept  pace  continually  with  that 
of  the  church.  No  one  was  more  thoroughly  convinced  than 
Zwingli,  that  the  civil  was  the  result  of  the  religious  corruption, 
and  vice  versa.  Soon  after  the  end  of  the  Conference  he  again 
delivered  a  vehement  discourse  against  the  mischief  of  pensions, 
traces  of  this  evil  being  still  apparent  and  it  required  no  great 
penetration  to  perceive,  that  it  stood  in  connection  with  the 
spirit  of  fanaticism,  which  began  to  show  itself  toward  the 
close  of  the  disputation.  After  this  discourse,  on  the  21st  of 
December,  1528,  the  burgomaster  and  the  councils  took  an 
oath  against  all  pensions;  on  the  day  before,  the  entire  priest- 
hood had  done  the  same.  Transgressors  were  threatened  with 
capital  punishment. 

Meanwhile  the  Bishop  of  Constance  had  sent  a  very  detailed 
report  on  the  Introduction,  to  the  Council  of  Zurich,  with  the 
notice,  that  in  drawing  it  up  he  had  availed  himself  of  the 
advice  of  several  universities.     A  committee,  consisting  of  nine 


154  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

of  the  most  learned  clergy,  four  members  of  the  Small  and  four 
of  the  Great  Council,  were  ordered  to  give  it  a  careful  examin- 
ation, and  on  their  motion  the  whole  of  it  was  read  aloud  in  the 
assembly.  As  Bullinger  informs  us,  '^all  agreed,  that  there 
was  little  ground  for  it  in  the  Divine  Word/' 

A  similar  judgment  was  passed  by  another  committee,  ap- 
pointed to  examine  the  objections  raised  against  Zwiugli,  dur- 
ing the  present  Conference,  by  the  canon  Hofmann  and  several 
members  of  the  Chapter. 

The  opinions  of  the  Confederates  were  yet  to  be  looked  for. 
But  they  had  trouble,  to  come  to  an  understanding  among 
themselves.  True  indeed,  it  was  determined  to  turn  a  common 
front  against  Zurich  for  her  remarkable  innovations ;  but  as  to 
what  should  be  said,  the  instructions  are  very  dissimilar.  "Let 
us  act  in  a  friendly  way,''  wrote  the  burgomaster  of  Schaff- 
hausen  and  such  was  the  order  from  Bern,  Glarus,  Basel, 
Solothurn  and  xVppenzell;  but  Luzern,  Zug,  Freiburg  and  the 
three  Forest  Cantons  were  in  favor  of  "  remaining  true  to  the  old 
faith  and  telling  Zurich  very  plainly  what  ought  to  be  told  to 
her."  At  last  they  agreed  to  complain  against  several  particu- 
lar articles,  to  lay  which  before  the  Great  Council  deputies  ap- 
peared in  Zurich  on  the  21st  of  March,  1524.  The  deputy  of 
Schaffhausen,  not  being  authorized  to  make  special  complaint, 
withdrew  from  the  others,  who  then  made  a  report,  of  which 
the  following  is  the  substance  :  With  pain,  we  see  the  increase 
of  the  new,  unchristian  Lutheran  religion  in  the  Confederacy ; 
with  pain,  that  Zurich  abets  the  mischief.  It  is  clear  as  day, 
that  disorders  only  spring  from  it.  Hence,  the  landvogt 
of  Baden  has  been  hindered  from  throwing  several  criminals 
into  prison,  at  Weiningen,  where  the  supreme  court  of  the 
duchy  sits;  at  a  fire  there  the  peasants  laid  hold  of  sword 
and  spear  instead  of  water-buckets;  at  Stammheim  they  in- 
sulted the  crucifix  and  images ;  at  Elggau,  a  pious  clergyman, 


LJFK    OF    ZWINUIJ.  155 

"w"ho  remonstrated  with  the  pastor,  was  obliged  to  flee  the  church 
and  the  parish;  at  Kuessnacht  the  tithe  has  been  refused 
to  the  Cloister  of  Engelberg,  and  at  Wsedenschweil  the  steward 
of  the  Knights  of  St.  John  has  been  abused.  The  landcogt 
of  Zurich  circulates  Lutheran  books  in  the  free  bailiwicks ;  a 
parson  has  said  at  Riflferschweil  that  it  is  all  one  to  baptize  a 
man  or  a  block  of  wood ;  the  priests  take  wives,  and  the  monks 
and  nuns  abandon  the  convents.  No  longer  can  this  be  borne, 
and  we  pray  Zurich  to  maintain  the  old  treaties  and  customs, 
and  then  we  will  cheerfully  aid  in  rooting  out  real  abuses,  the 
shameful  trade  in  benefices,  the  selling  of  indulgences  and  the 
scandalous  lives  of  the  clergy. 

Things  important  and  unimportant,  true  and  false,  were 
mingled  in  this  report.  A  written  answer  was  required.  In 
this  it  was  easy  to  show,  that  to  give  information  in  regard  to 
the  scenes  at  Weiningen  belonged  altogether  to  the  lower  courts 
at  that  place ;  that  the  affair  at  Stammheim  was  disapproved  of, 
would  be  looked  into  and  corrected;  that  the  priest,  who  had 
interrupted  the  pastor  at  Elggau  in  an  insulting  manner,  whilst 
preaching  would  be  indebted  to  their  protection  for  a  safe  return 
to  his  home ;  that  Kuessnacht  had  not  refused  the  tithe  to 
Engelberg,  and  that  the  pastor  at  Rafferschweil  had  not  said 
that  of  which  he  had  been  accused.  But,  in  order  to  justify 
herself  on  other  points,  it  was  necessary  to  enter  more  deeply 
into  the  views  of  faith  prevalent  at  Zurich,  which  was  not  to  be 
done  by  a  diplomatic  communication  through  the  Secretary  of 
State,  but  by  Zwingli  himself,  publicly.  This  disposed  the 
deputies  of  the  confederates,  who  on  other  accounts  were  dis- 
pleased with  the  Pieformer,  to  an  unfavorable  reception  of  the 
answer.  ^'That  Zurich,"  so  it  was  said  in  the  Recess  at  Luzern 
on  the  1st  of  April,  1524,  "sent  in  a  discourse  and  sermon 
from  God's  Word,  is  not  necessary  to  mention  here." 

The  last  word  of  Zurich  to  the  Bishop  of  Constance  met  with 


156  LIFE   OF    ZWrNGLl. 

as  little  favor.  From  all  sides  rejDorts  of  an  unfriendly  charac- 
ter came  to  the  ears  of  the  government;  yea,  it  began  to  be 
rumored,  that  some  of  the  states  seriously  thought  of  giving 
back  their  written  treaties  to  the  Zurichers. 

From  whom  had  the  government  now  to  seek  its  most  power- 
ful protection  ?     Only  from  God  and  its  own  people. 

To  learn  whether  they  could  be  relied  on,  information  was 
sought  through  their  vo^^fs  and  civil  officers.  "Faithful  and 
beloved  friends" — so  runs  the  paper,  which  was  sent  out  to  be 
read  publicly — "you  know  how  we  have  held  conferences  in 
our  canton  for  the  settlement  of  the  dispute.  The  truth  has 
been  revealed,  and  we  would  have  had  a  perfect  right  to  do 
away  all  abuses  immediately.  Still  we  did  not  wish  to  hurry, 
and  afforded  opportunities  on  all  sides  to  show  us  what  was 
better.  Our  gracious  Lord,  the  Bishop  of  Constance,  has  tried 
to  prove,  in  a  book  written  by  his  own  hand,  that  we  are  guilty, 
that  we  ought  to  adhere  to  images  and  esteem  the  mass  a  sacri- 
fice, as  hitherto.  "We  have  examined  it,  compared  it  with 
Holy  Scripture,  and  have  only  been  able  to  find  that  we  ought 
to  obey  God  rather  than  man.  Our  brethren  of  the  Confeder- 
acy have  sent  their  deputies  to  lay  such  complaints  before  us. 
Accept  the  answer  which  we  sent  them.*  After  this,  we 
heard  that  they  in  Luzern  gave  out,  that  they  would  put  down 
this  "piece  of  work,''  as  they  call  it.  We  have  asked  them, 
wliere  they  intend  doing  this.  They  have  answered,  just  where 
it  suits  them.  Again  it  reached  our  ears,  that  we  were  grossly 
slandered,  as  to  city  and  canton,  in  Luzern.  We  sent  two  of  our 
councilors  hither  with  the  request,  that  they  would  allow  them 
to  vindicate  us  before  the  people.  It  was  not  granted.  Still 
they  appeared  before  the  Great  Council,  and  desired  that  such 
calumniators  might  be  brought  against  them.  We  inform  you 
of  all  this,  in  the  hope  that  you  will  be  of  like  mind  with  us  in 

*  It  was  publicly  read. 


LIFi:   OF   ZWlNCiLI.  157 

this  Christian  business.  Remember,  how  many  good,  honest 
men,  we,  by  the  use  of  God's  Word  in  these  times  of  war,  have 
kept  alive  and  spared  for  their  wives  and  children.  Heretofore, 
you  have  acted  faithfully  in  this  and  other  matters,  like  pious 
people.  How  much  more  should  we,  in  that  which  concerns 
the  honor  of  God,  the  salvation  of  our  souls  and  our  consciences, 
keep  together,  use  the  Divine  Word,  and  be  one  in  protecting 
and  defending  ourselves.  If  this  happen,  then  God  is  vrith  us, 
whom  no  one  on  earth  or  in  hell  can  withstand.  Therefore 
take  friendly  counsel  together^  and  let  us  know  your  resolu- 
tions. " 

Now  again,  all  the  answers  agree  in  substance.  There  was 
not  oiie,  in  which  the  determination  to  uphold  evangelical  lib- 
erty was  not  expressed  in  strong  language.  "We  testify" — 
wrote  Winterthur — "and  have  resolved,  as  far  as  in  us  lies,  to 
be  eternally  loyal  to  our  gracious  Lords  of  Zurich,  according  to 
our  oath,  and  place  at  their  disposal  our  honor,  our  bodies,  our 
goods  and  our  lives,  and  are  willing  to  defend  the  same  by  the 
Holy  Word  of  God;"  but  it  seemed  also  to  be  the  general  wish 
to  remain  in  alliance  with  the  Confederates,  and,  if  it  were  pos- 
sible, in  peace.  Thus  the  people  of  Waedenschweil  and  Ilichter- 
schweil  gave  notice,  that  the}^  would  be  neighbors  with  them  at 
Hoefen  and  Zugerberg,  who  had  always  dealt  with  them  in 
friendship  and  love,  as  they  also  did  with  them  as  far  as  pos- 
sible. Thalweil  also  prayed  that  war  would  not  be  begun  for 
the  sake  of  one  or  two,  be  they  clergy  or  laymen.  For  the  rest 
they  were  pleased  with  the  just  commands  of  the  Lords  and  all, 
which  they  heretofore  had  so  excellently  managed,  for  they  had 
always  acted  like  wise  men.  Not  in  the  ill-will  of  the  Confed- 
ates,  but  in  their  instigation  from  Zurich,  the  reasons  of  the 
discord  were  to  be  sought — in  their  instigation  by  a  minority 
still  present  in  the  Council,  who  were  opposed  to  the  Gospel 
and  addicted  to  taking  pensions,  at  least  secretly,  by  perverse 


158  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

clergymen,  by  tlie  people  of  the  convents,  by  unwearied  letter- 
writers  and  forgers  of  lies.  ^^ There  is  talk" — says  a  memorial 
from  Wiedikon,  Albisrieden  and  Altstffitten — "that  all  the  op- 
position only  comes  from  our  own  midst,  and  therefore  we  de- 
sire that  such  base-intentioned  persons  be  looked  after,  be  they 
in  the  Council  or  elsewhere,  and  be  compelled  to  keep  still  and 
quiet  and  cease  their  contrariety.  So  will  we  ever  pledge  to 
the  noble  city  of  Zurich  life,  honor  and  fortune.  We  beg  our 
Lords  only  to  hold  bravely  to  their  mandates  and  the  Word  of 
God,  and  we  will  faithfully  aid  them  in  using  and  protecting 
the  same. "  In  like  manner  the  congregations  of  Neuamt  write : 
*^We  have  reason  to  know,  that  You,  our  Lords  and  Superiors, 
are  not  one  in  the  Small  and  Great  Councils,  but  are  divided  in 
this  business,  which  is  a  great  trouble  to  us.  Therefore  we 
earnestly  pray  you  to  put  away  all  such  discord  and  be  united, 
so  will  we  also  pledge  our  persons  and  our  property  to  God's 
Word  and  our  Lords." — "Nothing  is  kept  secret" — wrote 
Buelach — "in  Your  Small  and  Great  Council,  but  everything  is 
continually  published  through  the  whole  Confederacy,  and  this 
grieves  us.  We  pray  you  therefore  to  make  diligent  inquiry 
and  expel  the  babblers,  and  drive  oft'  them  who  are  opposed  to 
God's  Word;  then  it  should  be  cared  for  that  the  entire  coun- 
try should  not  be  disturbed  by  them. "  Eglisau  asked  for  the 
same  thing  with  the  addition:  "If  you,  dear  Lords,  are  not 
strong  enough  to  punish  such  people,  we  will  help  you  with 
our  persons  and  our  property."  That  from  Ruemlang  carries 
the  same  sense :  "  Further,  it  is  our  wish  and  advice,  that  You, 
as  our  Lords  and  Superiors,  will  look  after  the  adversaries  of 
God's  Word,  both  those  who  sit  in  your  Council  and  those  who 
are  of  the  clergy,  be  they  priests  or  monks,  and  expel  them 
from  the  city  and  canton,  for  it  is  certain  that  the  greatest  dis- 
pleasure of  the  Confederates  has  sprung  from  this  source;  and 
if  You,  as  our  Lords  and  Superiors,  are  not  strong  enough  for 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  159 

tliem,  we  will  stand  bj  you  with  our  persons  and  our  property, 
for  such  things  can  be  endured  no  longer. "  With  a  hanker- 
ing side-glance  at  the  fat  possessions  of  the  monasteries,  they  of 
the  Four  Wards  wrote :  "■  We  have  received  the  friendly  and 
gracious  communication  of  our  Lords  with  great  thanks,  and 
wish  to  be  among  those  who  pledge  person,  soul,  honor  and 
property  to  the  Word  of  God  and  their  Lords  and  Superiors, 
especially  to  those  who  mean  well,  and  not  to  the  base,  who 
strive  against  God's  Word.  For  the  rest,  it  is  our  wish,  that 
You,  as  our  Lords  and  Superiors,  would  punish  and  drive  away 
those  wicked  ones,  who  fight  against  God's  Word,  be  they  in 
the  Council,  in  the  city,  or  in  the  canton,  be  they  clergymen 
or  laymen,  for  it  is  certain,  that  the  displeasure  of  our  Confed- 
erates has,  for  the  most  part,  arisen  from  this  quarter  by  their 
letter- writing  and  other  rebellious  acts;  and  if  you  are  not 
strong  enough  to  punish  or  drive  them  away,  we  will  aid  you 
with  our  persons  and  our  property  to  drive  them  off.  In  the 
third  place,  be  it  our  will  and  opinion,  that  you  will  take  care 
of  and  drive  away  by  the  help  of  God's  Word,  all  the  soup- 
eaters,  who  crowd  together,  as  is  well  known,  in  the  monas- 
teries; for  if  this  be  not  done,  we  will  see  if  we  also  cannot 
some  day  obtain  such  eating  and  drinking. "  And  still  more 
fully  Ptiespach  and  Hirslanden :  "  It  is  also  our  earnest  opinion, 
whereas  numerous  and  manifold  speeches  and  lies  have  hitherto 
been  written  and  sent  off  by  the  clergy  and  laymen  to  the  con- 
federates generally  and  particular  cantons  and  cities,  and  have 
been  little  inquired  into  as  yet,  by  which  great  iujuiy  and  loss 
of  reputation  may  fall  upon  the  city  of  Zurich  and  its  tenitory, 
since  when  our  people  go  from  home,  be  it  to  Luzern,  Zug, 
Baden  or  other  parts,  then  they  all  say :  Such  reports  came 
from  Zurich; — therefore  we  wish  this  business  to  be  better 
looked  into;  and  if  the  Gospel  is  to  be  protected,  such  persons 
ought  to  be  punished  according  to  their  deserts.     We  also  pray 


100  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

our  Lords,  that,  "where   there  are   ill-minded  priests,  who  will 
not  obey  their  statutes  and  always  speak  and  act  against  the 
Gospel,  God's  Word,  all  such  be  thrust  from  their  livings  and 
the  churches  supplied  with  good  pastors;  for  it  strikes  us  that 
otherwise  we  can  never  hope  for  peace.     Further,  we  pray  our 
Lords  to  sequester  the  property  of  the  monasteries  and   the 
canons,  so  that  it  may  go  to  the  aid  of  the  poor,  who  every- 
where sit  before  our  churches;  so  that  the  Confederates  and 
other  strangers  may  not  say:  "If  they  are  such  good  Christians 
in   Zurich,   why  do  so  many  poor  people  sit   before   all   the 
churches?     Hence  we  think  that  the  tithes,  which   we  raise, 
more  justly  belong  to  the  poor  than  to  nonsensical  priests,  who 
write  here  and   there   behind   the   back  of  the   government. 
Hence  it  is  our  urgent  prayer  to  our  gracious  Lords  of  Zurich, 
that  they  deliberate  on  the  above-cited  points,  and  if  then  it 
seems  better  to  their  wisdom  to  do  so  than  to  leave  it  alone,  we 
all  and  each  one  in  particular  will  pledge  his  soul,  honor,  body 
and  goods  to  the   city  of  Zurich,  and   esteem  you,   our  dear 
Lords,  as  true  fathers,  as  we  hope  you  will  find  us  good,  will- 
ing, dutiful  and  submissive  children,  even  unto  death." 

The  tenor  of  these  answers  was  sufficient  to  show  the  govern- 
ment, that,  even  if  it  wished,  it  could  no  longer  delay  the 
progress  of  the  reformation,  and  that  only  by  action,  just  as  de- 
cided as  cautious,  would  it  be  possible  to  prevent  an  outbreak  of 
the  flame,  which  already  appeared  in  scattered  sparks. 

Hence  an  ordinance  of  the  Council  was  passed  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  images  in  the  most  qniet  way,  with  forbearance 
and  care.  Whoever  had  presented  any  to  the  churches,  or  had 
caused  them  to  be  made  at  his  own  cost,  could  take  them  home 
without  molestation.  If  the  majority  in  a  congregation  were 
opposed  to  their  removal,  then  it  was  commanded  to  wait  till 
they  were  better  informed.  All  processions  were  forbidden, 
even  the  pilgrimage  to  Einsiedeln,  in  memory  of  the  victory  at 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  IGl 

Tsettweil.  The  latter,  celebrated  by  a  dangerous  mingling  of 
both  sexes  in  a  march  of  several  days  and  in  the  monastery, 
was  discontinued  accordingly,  and  this  was  regarded  as  an  act 
of  hostility.  But  why  should  public  thanks  to  the  Supreme 
Disposer  of  battles,  why  should  joyful  remembrance  of  the 
bravery  of  their  father's  cease? 

The  reform  of  the  clerical  foundations  and  monastic  life  was  very 
thorough.  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  that  in  the  Chapter 
of  Canons  at  the  Great  Minster.  Now,  it  also  voluntarily  sur- 
rendered its  secular  jurisdiction  to  the  government,  but  guarded 
itself  on  the  other  hand  against  the  delivery  of  its  rich  church- 
ornaments,  which  were  likewise  demanded  by  the  Council  and  at 
len  o-th  taken.  Their  value  went  to  cover  a  part  of  the  expenses  of 
the  Canton,  which  were  greatly  increased  by  the  commotions  of 
the  age.  At  the  same  time  Catherine  von  Zimmern,  abbess  of 
Frauininster,  gave  up  to  the  burgomaster  and  councils,  under  the 
assurance  that  she  and  the  sistere  would  receive  an  adequate  sup- 
port, the  convent  along  with  its  rights  and  revenues.  The 
Chapter  of  Canons  at  Embrach,  the  Cistercians  at  Cappel  and  the 
Augustinians  at  Heiligenberg,  near  Winterthur,  asked  of  their 
own  accord  for  a  suppression  or,  a  re-organization  for  a  more 
useful  end.  The  remaining  cloisters  were  taken  under  the  care 
of  the  government.  Toward  the  Dominicans  of  the  city  the 
greatest  severity  had  to  be  shown.  They  held  the  richest  pos- 
sessions; and  yet,  like  the  Franciscans,  were  pledged  to  poverty 
by  the  rules  of  their  order.  "On  Saturday,  Dec.  3d,  1524," 
— Felix  Weiss  narrates — "the  burgomaster  and  the  councils 
ordained,  that  the  three  men  of  the  monasteries,  namely,  the 
Dominicans,  the  Augustinians  and  the  Franciscans,  should 
be  united,  and  the  younger  portion  of  them  taught  trades.  If 
any  did  not  wish  to  remain,  to  these  a  viaticum  was  to  be  given; 
and  to  all  who  desired  to  remain  in  the  monastery  a  comfortable 
support  for  life  and  permission  to  die  a  peaceful  death.     Thus, 

14* 


162  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

on  the  Saturday  aforesaid,  in  the  afternoon,  without  notice  or 
warning,  the  three  chief  officers  and  other  members  of  the 
council,  accompanied  by  the  police  of  the  city,  led  the  Do- 
minicans all  at  once  to  the  Franciscans;  and  directly  after 
that  they  went  to  the  Augustinians  and  summoned  them 
all.  They  were  obliged  to  lay  down  their  keys  of  office  in 
presence  of  my  lords  on  a  table  in  the  convent-parlor.  After  a 
long  speech  and  friendly  words,  they  again  led  them  over  the 
upper  bridge  to  the  barefooted  friars;  and  thus  the  rulers  of 
the  city,  of  the  Small  and  Great  Councils,  honestly  disposed  of 
the  people  in  all  the  monasteries.  Soon  after,  their  portion  was 
assigned  them,  so  that  those  who  were  willing  to  stay  in  the 
monastery  of  the  Franciscans,  would  receive  lodging  and 
shelter  there  and  wood  enough;  besides,  to  each  one  6  shocks 
of  grain,  6  buckets  of  wine  and  32  pounds  Halhr  were  prom- 
ised every  year." 

Out  of  the  ordinary  revenues  of  the  government,  aided  by 
the  property  of  the  suppressed  monasteries,  schools  were  found- 
ed, an  alms-house,  a  lazaretto  for  the  plague-stricken,  and  an 
orphan-asylum.  The  hospital  was  enlarged,  and  suitable  sala- 
ries awarded  to  its  spiritual  and  lay  attendants.  Scholastic 
education  was  greatly  needed,  and  where  qualified  teachers 
could  not  be  obtained  from  the  city,  they  were  called  from 
abroad.  Thus  Myconius  was  brought  back  to  Zurich.  Eu- 
dolph  Collin  followed  him  from  Luzern.  Wiesendanger  came 
from  the  village  of  Dynhart,  after  him  Pellikan  from  Alsace ; 
all  in  order  to  teach  the  ancient  languages. 

Zwingli  now  resolved  to  marry,  and  on  the  2d  of  April, 
1524,  led  Anna  Reinhart,  *  in  whom  he   found  the  guardian 

*  She  was  the  widow  of  Hans  Meier  of  Knonau,  who  died  in  1520, 
and  had  a  son  by  him,  named  Gcrohl,  whom  Zwingli  loved  like  a  father 
and  to  whom  he  dedicated  a  work  on  the  education  of  youth.  Little 
is  known  of  her   during   her  marriage  with  Zwiugli.     But  a  single 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  163 

angel  of  his  earthly  existence,  before  the  altar,  to  take  the 
pledge  of  fidelity  in  the  presence  of  God  and  the  congregation. 
Henceforth  the  priests  wished  to  be,  above  all,  Christians;  but 
to  all  Christians  without  exception,  the  call  has  been  made  ac- 
cording to  the  language  of  the  Aposle,  to  become  priests  by  in- 
ward consecration,  priests  without  love  of  power  and  without 
the  spirit  of  caste. 

short  letter  is  extant,  written  by  her  husband  from  Bern,  in  which  he 
asks  her  to  send  a  cap-pattern  to  one  of  her  relations  there.  Solomon 
Hess  in  his  Biography  thinks  that  Zwingli  read  his  writings  aloud  to 
her.  The  author  begs  leave  to  doubt  this,  indeed  rather  to  believe, 
that  he  would  have  heartily  laughed,  if  the  learned  stuff  was  tedious  to 
her.  Mind  and  heart  she  certainly  had,  and  he  talked  with  her  not 
merely  about  kitchen  and  cellar;  but  she  probably  studied  him  more 
in  his  actions,  than  in  his  works. 


CHAPTER    FOURTH. 


DANGEKS  OF  THE  REFOKMATION   AND  ZWINGLl'S  BATTLE  AGAINST  THEM. 


N  our  times  we  liear  such  frequent 
use  of  the  word  radicalism.  What 
is  its  true  meaning,  according  to 
its  derivation  ?  Action,  that  pen- 
etrates to  the  roots.  We  can  im- 
agine a  good  radicalism,  which 
would  tear  out  by  the  roots  all  the 
evil  growth  of  life,  and  also  a  had,  which  would  up- 
root all  that  is  good.  The  first  strives  to  unite,  the 
second  to  divide.  Experience  teaches  that  neither 
the  one,  nor  the  other,  is  continually  prosperous. 
Why?  Because  new  tares  and  wheat  spring  up 
anew;  and  again  why?  Christ  has  given  us  the 
reason:  Because  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  has  put 
off  the  time  of  separation.  Should  this  make  us  in- 
difierent,  and  negligent  in  the  cultivation  of  the  garden  ? — We 
would  soon  feel  the  merited  results  in  its  dreary  desolation. 
No,  it  ought  to  teach  us  that  to  every  individual  his  daily  labor 
is  appointed,  and  to  every  generation  of  men  its  conflict;  that 
none  can  so  finish  its  task,  or  will  so  finish  it,  that  the  succeed- 
ing durst  sit  down  at  ease;  but  that  one  is  the  most  fortunate 
which  has  foresight  enough  to  separate  the  good  and  the  worth- 
less plants  in  their  earliest  stages,  the  better  to  cherish  the 

164 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  165 

former  and  as  mucli  as  possible  to  keep  down  the  latter.  What 
then  is  the  great,  the  most  important  want  of  political  and  so- 
cial life?  It  is — education.  Eut  mere  instruction  is  not  edu- 
cation. For  in  that  case  the  best  men  would  come  from  the 
institutions,  which  are  most  richly  endowed,  and  yet  experience 
so  often  teaches  us  directly  the  contrary.  Indeed,  the  most 
important  part  of  education,  more  influential  yet  than  instnic- 
tion,  without  which  the  latter  would  be  eternally  defective,  is 
example.  And  here  again  we  are  referred  to  the  Word  of 
Christ,  which  summons  us  to  look  for  fruit.  This  is  the  doc- 
trine of  religion;  to  call  fruit  into  life,  is  the  task  of  the 
church.  Let  her  see  to  providing  example,  and  the  school  in- 
struction, and  let  both  strive  honestly  to  unite  knowledge  with 
example.  Then  only  can,  then  only  will  their  influence  be 
harmonious. 

lie  who  pens  these  remarks  is  not  concerned  about  the  ob- 
jection, which  may  be  made :  What  will  example,  what  will  all 
our  endeavor  to  call  into  existence  nobler  examples  avail,  if  a 
one-sided  training  of  the  understanding  to  mock  at  example 
and  laugh  to  scorn  everything  noble  in  life,  teaches  that  the 
highest  good  is  to  be  sought  in  base,  private  advantage  ?  if  all 
our  means  of  correction,  all  authority  to  interfere  be  given  up  ? 
The  element  of  the  church  is  faith — faith  in  the  inward  power 
of  truth  and  goodness,  which  does  not  suffer  itself  to  be  dis- 
heartened by  results  that  appear  insignificant,  or  even  by  the 
momentaiy  preponderance  of  evil.  lie  who  has  it  not,  let  him 
not  devote  himself  to  her  service.  They  who  have  it,  let  them 
secure  a  circle  of  operation  as  free  as  possible ;  and  this  is  the 
course  of  wisdom  for  rulers. 

Let  us  now  return  to  Zwingli,  a  man  in  whom  such  faith  and 
knowledge  were  joined,  and  learn  to  know  him  also  in  his  battle 
with  the  dangers,  into  which  his  bold  undertaking  led  him. 

The  public  religious  conferences  had  wakened  in  the  city  of 


lOG  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Zurich  a  spirit  of  inquiry,  not,  it  is  tme,  of  that  unrestricted 
kind  which  seeks  a  philosophical  basis  for  the  dogmas  of  faith, 
according  to  the  deductions  of  human  reason,  but  of  that  higher 
order,  which  looks  to  their  agreement  with  Holy  Scripture. 
When  this  was  settled,  investigation  was  at  an  end;  but  in  the 
settlement  there  were  peculiar  difficulties.  Who  would  warrant 
the  accuracy  of  the  translation,  when  disputes  arose?  Who 
would  decide  whether  the  obscurer  passages  should  be  under- 
stood according  to  the  bare  sound  of  the  words,  or  if  a  more 
spiritual  meaning  were  applicable  ? — Synods  ?  Church  Councils  ? 
They  were  necessary,  indispensable  for  the  maintenance  of  order 
in  the  church.  They  could  work  very  beneficially  for  the  im- 
provement and  spiritualization  of  systems  of  doctrine.  But  to 
surrender  to  them  the  deciding  power  in  matters  of  faith — that 
would  have  been  a  return  to  the  abandoned  priuci^^le  of  Cathol- 
icism. To  this  prelacy  and  intcflerance  would  have  been  joined 
inevitably.  Or  should  every  individual  be  left  to  decide  ac- 
cording to  his  own  caprice  ?  How  then  could  divisions,  sects 
and  endless  controversies  be  avoided  ? 

Here  again  faith  lent  her  aid,  faith  in  the  inward  truth  of 
the  Divine  Word.  It  ought  to  vindicate,  it  will  vindicate 
itself,  the  more  it  is  preached  by  an  educated  ministry,  which 
believes  in  its  teacliings.  In  this  conviction  Zwingli  and  his 
friends  found  their  support  and  did  not  heed  the  dangers  and 
the  temporary  confusion,  produced  by  the  overthrow  of  existing 
ecclesiastical  forms  in  Zurich. 

Just  in  proportion  as  the  Holy  Scriptures  became  known 
through  the  press  and  the  pulpit,  interpreters  arose  on  all  sides. 
Here  it  was  simplicity,  there  presumption,  and  in  the  majority 
passion  or  selfish  projects,  which  prompted  them.  By  this 
means  the  people,  a  short  time  before  so  sensible  and  quiet, 
were  evidently  disturbed  and  excited.  Most  pernicious  dogmas 
like  these — that  learning  was  superfluous,  that  Christians  ought 


LIFE   or    ZV/INGLI. 


1G7 


to  own  no  property,  tliat  a  nation  of  brothers  needed  no  govern- 
ment—they  attempted  to  support  by  the  hmgiiage  of  Scripture, 
which  was  distorted,  falsely  translated,  or  torn  out  of  its  con- 
nection. The  general  ignorance  was  too  great  not  to  favor  the 
growth  of  imposture ;  and  the  ambition,  avarice  and  debauchery 
of  numbers  afforded  too  many  opportunities  of  temptation  to 
cunning  seducers,  who  spared  no  amount  of  travel,  writing  and 
dissimulation  in  order  to  win  adherents  and  increase  the  army 
of  dupes.     Now  let  us  consider  the  most  important  facts. 

From  their  eager  violation  of  existing  church  usages  with 
unholy  parade,  and  their  notorious  behavior  at  the  Second  Re- 
ligious Conference  we  have  become  acquainted  with  several 
leaders  of  this  disorderly  party,  Conrad  Grebel,  William 
Eoeubli  and  Simon  Stumpf.  Two  others,  Felix  Manz  and 
John  Broedlein,  were  added;  the  first  of  whom  by  his  scientific 
culture,  and  the  second  by  his  strength  of  character,  as  well  as 
by  his  stubbornness  and  pride,  which  did  not  indeed  allow  of 
entire  harmony  of  feeling,  soon  drew  attention,  as  among  the 
most  dangerous. 

Manz,  like  many  others  in  that  dissolute  age,  the  iDtelligent 
son  of  a  clergyman,  had  acquired  a  considerable  knowledge  of 
the  Hebrew  language,  little  known  at  that  time,  and  when  the 
want  of  instruction  in  it  began  to  be  generally  felt,  he  thought 
himself  specially  called  to  become  a  teacher  of  it.  And  had  a 
place  been  immediately  created  for  him  and  richly  endowed  out 
of  the  revenues  of  the  newly  organized  Chapter  of  Canons,  it  is 
highly  probable,  at  least  if  EuUinger's  representation  of  the 
man  be  true,  that  he  would  have  chosen  the  nobler  path  of  pure 
scientific  activity.  But  this  was  not  done,  and  with  Grebel  he 
appeared  at  the  head  of  the  insurgents.  In  the  house  of  his 
mother  at  Zurich,  in  the  New  Town,  he  instituted  a  nightly 
meeting,  where  at  first  a  slight  dissatisfaction  with  the  course, 
which  the  work  of  reform  had  taken,  was  expressed  only  ia 


16S  LIFE    OF    ZWJNCLI. 

general  terms ;  but  by  degrees  more  decided  projects  were  ma- 
tured— to  possess  themselves,  if  possible,  with  the  direction  of 
affairs,  and,  as  they  styled  it,  to  found  a  new  church.  To  this 
plan  they  next  sought  to  win  over  Zwingli.  Stumpf  and  Manz, 
as  he  himself  tells  us,  had  repeated  conversations  with  him  on 
this  subject.  They  begged  him  to  bring  no  doctrines  into  the 
pulpit,  except  such  as  they  would  agree  upon  among  themselves 
beforehand.  "No  one'' — said  3Ianz  still  further — "is  to  be 
received  into  our  church,  who  has  not  the  assurance  in  himself 
that  he  is  without  sin." — "And  will  you  belong  to  it?"  asked 
Zwingli  with  a  stern  look.  Manz  was  silent;  but  from  that 
time  forth,  he  and  his  associates  began  to  calumniate  the  Re- 
former everywhere  and  throw  obstacles  into  his  path. 

But  the  actual  outbreak  of  disturbances  was  occasioned  by 
Broedlein.  A  year  before,  whilst  pastor  at  Quarten,  in  the 
bailiwick  of  Sargan,  he  had  made  himself  conspicuous.  AVith 
Roeubli  he  was  among  the  first  of  the  clergy,  who  violated  the 
rules  of  fasting  and  the  vow  of  celibacy.  He  had  done  both  in 
the  assurance  of  evangelical  right  and  Christian  liberty;  and 
when  the  landvogt  spoke  to  him  about  it,  he  made  answer  not 
in  the  most  courtly  terms :  The  landvogt  ought  to  punish  the 
lewd  and  adulterous  persons  who  swarm  in  his  neighborhood, 
instead  of  him  and  his  virtuous  wife.  He  was  bound  rather  to 
protect  him,  and  compel  the  other  clergy  to  marry.  The 
special  sanctity  of  the  priesthood  was  at  an  end.  If  one  steals, 
then  you  should  hang  him,  even  though  he  would  anoint  his 
whole  body  with  oil.  The  tale-bearers  had  lied  about  him  like 
rogues.  "Still" — he  concluded  in  a  tone  somewhat  more 
moderate — "  I  build  my  hopes  not  on  men  of  this  world.  That 
much  you  ought  to  know  of  me.  God  has  numbered  all  the 
hairs  of  my  head,  and  not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  without 
His  will,  so  neither  can  any  one  injure  me  or  my  wife,  if  it  be 
not  His   will,  and  therefore,   dear  landvogt,   you  need  send 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  1G9 

neitlier  thirty  nor  a  huridreJ  men  to  fetch  her.  If  she  has 
sinned  against  God,  then  send  the  smallest  child,  and  she  must 
come.  But  if  you  wish  to  take,  or  cause  her  to  be  taken  from 
me  by  force,  then  know,  that  you  act  against  Grod,  divine  right- 
eousness and  the  Gospel.  Yet  I  will  not  repel  force  by  force. 
1  once  indeed  thought  it  necessary  to  do  this;  but  God  has  com- 
manded me  otherwise,  and  hence  I  may  not  teach  it  to  my 
brethren." 

In  fact,  the  Jamlvogt,  at  the  requisition  of  the  ruliog  cantons, 
threw  him  into  prison.  How  he  escaped  is  not  known.  After 
the  Religious  Conferences  in  Zurich  we  find  him  as  assistant  at 
Zollikon,  and  here  he  seems  to  have  been  the  first  to  introduce 
into  Switzerland  the  doctrines  of  the  Anabaptists,  which  else- 
where had  caused  so  much  dissension.  Of  all,  who  sought  by 
means  of  these  doctrines  to  create  discord,  to  make  a  show  or 
found  a  party,  we  can  say,  that,  without  exception,  they  were 
men  of  narrow  minds,  or,  in  worse  cases,  hypocrites  with  dishon- 
orable private  aims.  Though  it  cannot  be  denied,  that  in  later 
times  respectable  men  have  lived  in  our  country  under  the 
name  of  Anabaptists,  and  are  even  yet  to  be  found,  still  their 
moral  worth  springs  not  from  their  otherwise  innocent  mode  of 
baptism,  but  from  their  religious  exercises,  their  simple  way  of 
living,  and  the  good  examples,  which  they  have  before  their 
eyes.  Yet  here  also  we  durst  not  forget,  that  it  is  not  the  part 
of  history  to  examine  articles  .of  faith,  but  to  keep  to  events 
and  the  external  phenomena  of  life. 

In  May,  1424,  when  the  decree  of  the  government  was  issued 
for  the  abolition  of  images  and  the  mass,  it  was  told  in  Zurich, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Zollikon,  roused  by  the  preaching  of 
Broedlein,  had  broken  down  the  images  and  altars  in  the  church 
and  even  carried  away  the  baptismal  font;  that  the  doctrine 
bad  spread  among  them,  that  it  was  unchristian  to  baptise  chil- 
dren, because   no  examples  of  it  were  found  in  the   Gospel, 


170  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

although  frequent  meution  was  made  of  the  baptism  of  adults; 
that  in  fact  a  deluded  multitude  had  desired  to  be  baptised 
again;  that  it  had  been  granted  to  them  by  several,  who  set 
themselves  up  for  apostles;  that  some  ran  about  in  the  houses 
preaching,  explaining  the  Scriptures  and  administering  the 
Supper;  that  others,  and  those  often  the  most  simple,  pretend- 
ed to  prophesy;  and  that  in  general  an  improper  and  blasphe- 
mous game  was  carried  on  in  religious  matters.  They  were  in- 
formed also  that  Manz  and  Grebel  had  appeared  there,  and  the 
foolish  movement  was  beginning  to  spread  over  the  surround- 
ing country. 

Whilst  a  portion  of  the  people  fell  in  with  such  follies,  dis- 
turbances arose  at  the  same  time  in  the  opposite  quarter.  The 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Meilen  would  no  longer  suffer 
their  two  priests,  who  had  married,  to  enter  the  church.  They 
broke  into  their  houses,  wasted  their  wine  and  provisions,  and 
it  was  only  with  difficulty  that  the  government  succeeded  in 
bringing  about  a  sort  of  compromise  between  the  shepherds  and 
their  flock. 

A  month  later  followed  the  so-called  ^^  Storming  of  Ittingen.^' 
The  landco(jt  in  the  Thurgau  had  taken  the  reformer  Q^chslf 
prisoner,  and  was  conveying  him  by  night  to  the  tower  at  Stein. 
He  cried  out  for  help;  the  watchful  citizens  of  Stein,  on  the  strength 
of  documents,  which  gave  the  right  to  do  this  only  to  them, 
hurried  after,  to  set  him  at  liberty.  Their  neighbors  of  Stamm- 
hcim,  in  the  canton  of  Zurich,  joined  them,  and  the  whole 
country  was  soon  in  motion;  but  the  captors  had  a  considerable 
start,  and  the  Thur,  swollen  to  the  full,  prevented  the  passage 
of  the  excited  multitude.  In  a  rage  they  then  fell  upon  Itti- 
gen,  the  hated  monastery  of  the  Carthusians.  It  was  plundered, 
and  set  on  fire  by  some  one,  who  was  never  found  out;  which 
act,  as  is  easy  to  imagine,  awakened  the  earnest  interference  of 
the  Confederate?. 


LIFE    OF    ZYriNGLT.  171 

They  wlio  were  most  deserving  of  ^^uinsliment  lied.  Zurich 
herself  cast  into  prison  some  others,  who  were  suspected,  on  ac- 
count of  their  prominent  pLice  among  the  insurgents,  and  not 
powerful  enough  to  make  resistance.  These  were  Hans  Wirth, 
suh-vogt  at  Stammheim,  with  his  two  sons,  both  priests,  and 
Burkhart  Ruetiman,  suh-vogt  at  Nusbaumen.  But  the  Con- 
federates demanded  the  delivery  of  the  prisoners  at  Baden  be- 
fore the  court  of  the  ruling  cantons,  since  the  criminal  act  was 
committed  in  the  Thurgau,  and  not  in  the  canton  of  Zurich.  The 
Council  of  Zurich  had  to  comply.  But  in  Baden  the  prisoners 
were  tried  for  other  things  than  the  transactions  in  the  Thurgau, 
put  to  the  rack,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  of  AYirth's  sons, 
actually  executed.  The  sentence  was  unjust.  Not  even  the 
most  remote  personal  participation  in  the  plundering  and  burn- 
ing of  Ittingen  could  be  proved  against  them.  For  the  part 
they  took  in  the  removal  of  the  images  at  Stammheim,  which 
chiefly  kindled  the  hatred  of  the  Confederates,  they  were  not 
responsible  to  them.  That  the  government  had  delivered  up 
these  men,  so  beloved  in  the  circle  of  their  home,  to  such  a 
fate,  produced  a  very  unfavorable  impression  on  the  inhabitants 
of  the  northern  part  of  the  canton,  the  more  so,  because  the 
condemned  had  met  death  in  a  brave  and  Christian  manner, 
and  aided  not  a  little  to  increase  the  disorders,  which  afterwards 
prevailed  there. 

At  this  juncture  the  flame  broke  out  in  the  German  prov- 
inces lying  beyond  the  Bhine.  Thomas  Muenzer,  at  a  later 
period  leader  of  the  Saxon  Anabaptists,  had  come  to  Basel  in 
Frickthal,  and  Waldshut  in  Cleggau.  In  Waldshut  he  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  preacher  at  that  place,  Balthasar  Hueb- 
meier,  who,  though  a  man  possessed  of  an  honest  will,  a  toler- 
able knowledge  of  Scripture  and  great  courage,  was  yet  apt  to 
lend  a  willing  ear  to  everything  new  and  striking.  When 
preaching  at  Regensburg  he  had  raised  a  riot  against  the  Jews, 


172  LI1"E    OF    ZWINGLI. 

then  founded  a  chapel  for  pilgrims,  then  turned  to  the  doctrines 
0^^  Luther,  and  was  just  now  as  ready  to  embrace  those  of  the 
Anabaptists. 

Through  him  AYaldshut  became  for  a  short  time  the  chief 
seat  of  this  disorder,  from  which,  in  church  and  state,  such 
hazardous  consequences  were  to  be  feared.  First  led  by 
Muenzer,  and  after  he  had  gone  to  the  Hartz  Mountains,  by 
Simon  lloeubli,  who  had  been  expelled  from  the  territory  of 
Zurich,  Huebmeier  set  himself  up  as  the  apostle  of  Anabaptism, 
and,  according  to  his  own  confession,  rebaptized  the  greater  part 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Waldshut.  The  warnings  of  the  Austrian 
government,  at  first  mild  and  then  earnest,  had  no  effect  upon 
them,  and  the  demand  for  the  dismission  of  the  obnoxious 
preachers  was  also  in  vain.  On  the  contrary,  similar  fanatics 
and  adventurers  of  every  sort  streamed  thither  from  all  sides, 
and  when  xYustria  armed  herself  for  severe  measures,  formal  re- 
sistance was  determined  on.  Volunteers  for  this  purpose  were 
obtained  chiefly  from  the  territories  of  Zurich.  At  the  first 
news  of  the  outbreak  the  government  sent  a  courier  to  demand 
their  return;  but  after  hearing  an  address  from  Rudolph  Collin, 
who,  formerly  a  canon  at  the  Minster,  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
territory  of  Luzern  on  account  of  his  adherence  to  the  Reform- 
ation, and  had  now  joined  them  with  upright  feelings  and  an 
honest  purpose,  they  declared  they  would  rather  die  than  return 
home.  And  their  answer  won  for  them  immediately  a  party  in 
the  Council.  "We  are  attracted" — so  they  wrote — "to  the 
Christian  brethren  at  Waldshut,  who  sigh  under  oppressive 
tjTanny,  not  by  money,  nor  for  our  own  private  ends — only  for 
the  defence  of  God's  Word  and  from  a  regard  to  the  honor  of 
Zurich.  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  has  called  them  to  arms;  there 
is  no  seditious  person  among  them;  their  captain  is  Jesus 
Christ." 

Meanwhile,  afi"airs  in  Waldshut  took  a  turn,  which   might 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  173 

liave  been  foreseen  by  tbe  prudent.  The  noise  of  war  drowned 
tbe  devotions  of  piety.  It  was  a  matter  of  indifference,  wliether 
psalms  or  frivolous  songs  were  sung  in  the  camp.  Nay,  it  fared 
worse  witb  the  former.  Huebmeier  himself,  at  his  trial,tells  of 
a  supper  in  the  house  of  a  merchant,  where  he  sat  at  the  side 
of  the  captain  amid  music  and  hurrahs.  And  what  the  further 
aims  of  these  pious  warriors  were  is  shown  by  a  letter  still  ex- 
tant, written  by  one  of  them  to  the  "dear  brother  and  image 
in  God,  Heiny  Aberly  in  Zurich,"  which  contains  the  follow- 
ing: ''See,  that  you  send  us  yet  forty  or  fifty  well-armed. 
Christian  fellows;  for  if  there  were  more  of  us  here,  we  would 
then  be  a  council  of  affairs  against  the  enemy  and  my  lords 
(the  government  of  Zurich  ) ;  and  if  we  would  again  be  warned 
home  and  then  go,  it  would  serve  to  the  damage  and  hindrance 
of  the  kingdom  of  God.  '^ 

This  unholy  proceeding  was  soon  detected  by  Collin  and 
other  men  of  honor.  They  returned  home,  obedient  to  the  re- 
newed summons  of  the  government.  Those  who  staid  behind 
no  longer  concealed  their  plan  of  open  resistance;  and  this 
spreading  over  the  surrounding  country  entered  also  the  bound- 
aries of  Zurich. 

The  first  news  of  it  was  received  by  the  government  from  the 
landvogt  of  Eglisau.  The  payment  of  taxes  and  villanage 
were  refused.  A  deputy  of  the  Council  was  pelted  with  stones. 
The  rebellion  extended  more  and  more  into  the  mountain  re- 
gions. A  swarm  of  insurgents  fell  upon  the  monastery  of 
Rueti — the  abbot  having  escaped  with  the  money,  jewels  and 
archives — and  rioted  and  caroused  there.  In  many  parishes 
the  alarm  was  sounded;  the  house  of  the  Knights  of 
St.  John  at  Bubikon  was  surprised  and  met  a  fate  similar  to 
that  of  Kueti.  The  government  with  great  difficulty  succeeded 
in  producing  a  momentary  calm,  by  a  decree  inviting  the  ex- 
cited country  people  to  hand  in  their  demands  and  wishes  in 

15-^ 


174  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

writing.  This  was  done  by  the  districts  of  Gmeningen,  Kjburg, 
Greifensee,  Eglisau  and  Andelfingen,  and  thus  it  soon  came  to 
light  in  what  close  connection  these  disturbances  in  Zurich 
stood  with  those,  which  then,  under  the  name  of  the  Peasant's 
War,  set  a  great  part  of  Germany  in  a  blaze.  Streams  of  blood 
and  executions  by  thousands  suppressed  it  there.  In  Switzer- 
land such  dreadful  scenes  could  be  prevented. 

Still,  the  complaints,  handed  in  by  the  districts  of  Zurich 
just  named,  were  closely  copied  after  the  twelve  articles,  which 
the  rebellious  peasants  of  Germany  everywhere  demanded  of 
their  lords.  But  if  reasons  for  rebellion  are  to  be  sought  in  tho 
tyranny  of  many  nobles,  as  well  as  in  the  confused  ideas  of  the 
people,  then,  instead  of  finding  abuses  in  Switzerland,  in  the 
canton  of  Zurich,  there  was  less  cause  for  complaint  against  the 
oppression  of  the  people  by  the  government  at  no  period  of  her 
history. 

The  Council  therefore,  conscious  of  an  upright  purpose  and 
strengthened  by  tho  increase  of  the  city-guilds,  took  the  points 
of  complaint,  which  were  presented,  into  consideration.  To 
yield  as  far  as  was  fair  and  just,  to  hold  firmly  to  all  that  was 
sustained  by  sealed  treaties  and  documents,  was  the  general 
leading  principle.  It  is  true,  another  might  have  been  em- 
braced, that  which  has  been  wrought  into  our  existing  political 
life  and  immoveably  planted  there,  the  principle  of  entire 
equality,  and  the  rather  because  the  feeling  that  it  was  not  al- 
together foreign  to  the  Gospel,  was  expressed  in  the  memorials 
of  the  people.  But  the  contest  for  and  against  this  principle 
could  not  be  carried  on  by  one  government;  duty  and  prudence 
enjoined  a  rigid  maintenance  of  rights  guaranteed  by  documents 
as  long  as  possible.  Upon  another  field,  that  of  science,  and 
where  the  Gospel  would  be  appealed  to,  theological  science,  it 
must  be  decided  beforehand.  On  this  field  Luther  and  Zwingli 
actually  carried  on  the  battle  and  both  showed  the  impropriety 


LIFE    OF    ZWIiXGLl.  175 

of  using  passages   of  Scripture,  and  of  wresting  tlieni   from 
tlieir  true  meaning,  in  the  affairs  of  state. 

The  govermuent  of  Zurich  on  her  side  kept  simply  to  the 
letter  of  the  articles  received  from  the  different  districts.  These, 
agreeing  in  the  main  points,  still  varied  as  to  special  privileges, 
customs  and  the  annoyance  of  some  parts  of  the  canton  by 
others.*  All  were  examined  and  its  own  answer  sent  to  each 
district.  The  reply  to  the  first  point,  which  was  the  same  to  all, 
ran  thus :  "  Since  you  have  declared,  that  you  will  have  no  lords 
for  protectors,  save  God  and  the  city  of  Zurich,  it  needs  no  an- 
swer and  is  clear  of  itself,  that  we  will  have  one  God,  and  My 
Lords  are  only  your  natural  lords  and  superiors  in  temporal 
affairs,  for  they  have  not  obtained  dominion  over  you  by  any 
kind  of  tyranny  or  warlike  power,  but  bought  it  freely  and  with 
ready  money.  Let  them  then  retain  it;  for  we  all  should  give 
to  God  what  is  due  to  Him,  and  to  worldly  authority  what  is 
due  to  it;  and  My  Lords  hope,  that  3^ou,  their  subjects,  will 
also  find  it  so.'' 

Although  considerable  relief  was  promised  in  regard  to  some 
of  the  points  complained  of,  still  the  envoys  of  the  Council,  who 
were  appointed  to  convey  the  answer  into  the  different  districts, 
nowhere  met  with  a  favorable  reception.  The  universal  cry  was 
that  nothing  further  could  be  done  without  an  assembly  of  the 
people,  and  on  Whitmonday,  June  5th,  an  announcement  was 
made  to  this  effect,  with  a  call  to  the  oldest  man  of  every 
household  to  appear  on  the  field  near  Toess. 

It  is  not  at  all  necessary,  in  our  day,  when  such  things  are  so 
common,  to  describe  this  first  convention  of  the  people.  The 
only  difference  between  it  and  ours,  consisted  in  this,  that  no 
formal  resolutions  were  drawn  up  beforehand,  and  no  one  un- 

•^  In  substance,  they  had  reference  to  the  relation  of  the  people  to 
the  government,  the  tithes,  the  rate  of  interest,  villanage,  freedom  of 
trade,  the  property  of  the  monasteries  and  the  right  to  choose  preachers. 


176  LIFE   or   ZWINGLI. 

dertook,  or  understood  how,  to  preside.  Hence  tlie  mass  was 
broken  up  into  groups  of  blustering  declaimers  or  curious  spec- 
tators, among  whom  the  deputies  of  the  government  went  about, 
pacifying  here,  instructing  there,  and  again  perhaps  using 
threats ;  but  "  We  are  to  be  bidden  no  longer  " — resounded  again 
and  again  from  the  incensed  multitude — "  We  wish  the  cities 
t/O  get  used  to  walking ;  for  ourselves  we  will  ride  once  as  lords 
ef  the  day."  The  popular  landvogt,  Lavater  of  Kyburg,  suc- 
ceeded in  persuading  several  of  the  most  influential  to  pacify 
their  friends  and  neighbors.  T3ut  the  citizens  of  Wiuterthur 
took  the  wisest  course.  They  invited  the  entire  host  into  their 
town,  entertained  them  liberally,  and  thus  made  them  forget 
their  enterprise  for  a  while. 

But  the  matter  was  soon  taken  up  again.  And  for  this  the 
inhabitants  of  the  region  between  the  rivers  Rhine  and  Thur 
were  chiefly  to  blame.  In  closer  connection  with  their  German 
neighbors,  and  excited  at  the  same  time  by  grievances  suffered 
in  consequence  of  the  Storming  of  Ittingen,  they  meditated  a 
separation  from  Zurich;  in  any  case  they  intended  to  deal  with 
the  government  not  in  the  character  of  subjects,  but  in  that  of 
an  independent  party.  Meanwhile  the  government  seeing  the 
importance  of  the  crisis,  roused  itself  for  prompt  action.  First 
of  all,  some  of  its  prominent  members  were  empowered  to  raise 
troops  and  money,  and  in  general  to  make  all  arrangements  for 
defence  in  the  city  itself.  Then  it  was  resolved  to  appeal,  as 
before,  to  all  the  districts  of  the  canton,  that  still  remained 
peaceful,  viz :  those  on  the  lake,  in  Limatthal,  in  the  free  baili- 
wicks and  in  the  so-called  Neuamt,  (new  bai.iwick).  The 
same  mode  of  proceedure,  observed  before,  was  again  employed  : 
a  delegation  from  the  Council,  their  explanations  and  inquiries, 
and  a  request  for  a  written  answer. 

Information  in  regard  to  all  that  had  occurred  was  given  to 
the  assembled  congregations  in  the  form  of  a  long  vindication. 


LIFE    OF    ZVflNGLI.  177 

They  were  again  reaiinded  of  the  endeavors  of  the  government 
to  keep  aloof  from  every  dangerous  foreign  influence  and  main- 
tain the  Gospel ;  and  then  the  points  of  grievance,  handed  in 
by  the  turbulent  districts,  and  the  answers  sent  by  the  govern- 
ment were  laid  before  them :  ''  More  than  a  thousand  florins  have 
My  Lords  expended  already  on  account  of  these  people,  espe- 
cially those  on  the  other  side  of  the  Thur,  and  their  disorderly 
doings.  How  miserably  the  assembly  at  Toess  ended,  you  vill 
all  have  learned  by  this  time,  and  that  a  new  one,  still  more 
numerous,  is  announced  to  meet  at  Kloten.  Our  Lords  hope, 
that,  if  you  are  invited,  you  will  not  go,  but  if  they  desire  it, 
and  you  do,  let  it  be  only  to  warn  them  back  to  duty ;  and 
although  we  believe  everything  good  of  you,  that  yet  you  will 
inform  the  government  of  your  mind,  the  rather  because  the 
people  of  the  lake  have  been  one  with  the  city  of  Zurich  from 
time  immemorial  and  esteemed  as  burghers  of  the  same,  and  it 
is  hoped  will  be  so  forever/' 

Of  the  answers  sent  in,  as  far  as  they  are  still  extant,  the 
most  characteristic  may  be  here  quoted  : 

''  To  the  notice  " — wrote  Manedorf — "  which  Our  Lords  have 
laid  before  us  concerning  a  strange  convocation  in  the  duchy  of 
Kyburg  and  several  manors,  our  answer  is :  When  our  Lords 
agreed,  with  their  whole  canton,  to  give  the  go-by  to  all  princes 
and  lords,  and  thereby  spared  the  blood  of  many  honest  people, 
then  we  gave  them  praise  and  thanks  therefor,  and  it  is  our 
earnest  will  and  opinion  that  Our  Lords  ought  to  adhere  to  that 
and  punish  all  who  trangress  their  prohibition,  whether  for  the 
French  or  other  lords,  each  one  according  to  his  desert.  For 
this  we  are  willing  to  pledge  person  and  property,  and  so  wo 
have  already  signified  to  Our  Lords.  Since  they  have  read 
before  us  the  articles  and  grievances,  under  which  the  honest 
people  of  the  manors  think  they  lie,  we  confess  that  we  have 
no  part  at  all  in  them.  And  since  Our  Lords  have  come  a  second 


178  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

time  to  learn  what  our  feelings  may  be  toward  them,  in  regard 
to  the  preachings  of  the  Holy  Gospel,  we  again  pray  them  to 
keep  steadfastly  to  it,  and  if  any  one,  whoever  he  may  be,  wishes 
to  oppress  them  in  this,  we  cheerfully  pledge  to  them  our  honor, 
our  lives,  our  property,  and  whatever  else  God  has  given  us. 
Thus,  it  is  again  our  humble  prayer  and  desire  that  you  have 
the  Holy  Gospel,  aforenamed,  still  jDreached  more  and  more,  and 
hope  that  by  God's  Word  many  things,  of  which  the  poor  man 
now  complains,  may  be  done  away.  But  it  seems  to  us,  that 
selfishness  yet  prevails,  and  is  little  willing  to  relieve  the  common 
man,  and  that  there  are  several  preachers,  who,  after  beginning 
to  preach  the  Holy  Gospel,  now  deceive  themselves.  Since 
then  we  learn,  that  Our  Lords  have  banished  several  preachers 
from  their  territory,*  although  they  knew  they  preached  nothing 
but  the  Holy  Word  of  God  and  what  they  knew  could  be  proven 
by  the  same,  it  yet  grieves  us  and  it  is  our  humble  prayer,  thai 
whoever  he  may  be,  preacher  or  peasant,  who  is  eulight-ened  by 
God  to  preach  the  Holy  Gospel  and  prove  it  by  Holy  Scripture, 
that  you  let  him  do  it,  so  that  this  Holy  word  may  come  to  light; 
though  it  strikes  us,  as  above  stated,  that  several  preachers  have 
wilfully  deluded  themselves.  Further,  when  Our  Lords  were 
concerned,  lest  war  should  arise  against  the  confederates,  they 
sent  guns  to  us  everywhere  in  the  canton,  but  now  demand  them 
back  again,  which  appears  strange  to  us,  since  just  at  this  very 
time  they  are  building  bulwarks  in  the  city.  If  war  is  to  be 
feared,  then  there  will  be  fresh  need  of  the  guns;  but  if  you  are 
building  bulwarks  against  us,  then  God  have  pity !  But  we 
hope  He  will  send  his  grace  and  peace  between  us  all.  Lastly, 
since  Our  Lords  have  informed  us  that  the  people  of  Kyburg 
and  the  manors  will  assemble  again  on  next  Thursday  at  Kloten, 
iiud  perhaps  send  to  us,  to  learn  our  feelings  toward  them,  and 

*  Roeubli,  Sturnpf,  and  BrocJlein,  whom  we  have  mentioned. 


LIFE   OF    Z  WING  LI.  179 

that  we  ought  to  send  thither  two  honorable  men,  who  may  pro- 
mot  peace  and  quiet,  we  answer,  that,  up  to  this  time,  no  one, 
either  from  the  duchy  or  elsewhere,  has  come  with  a  request 
to  our  congregation.  But  should  any  one  come,  then  will  we 
act  upon  his  summons  in  a  proper  manner/' 

''  ^Ye  have" — write  the  people  q^  Kilchherg — ^^  listened  to  Our 
Lords'  oral  and  written  notice,  long  as  it  is,  and  entrust  this 
business  to  our  Lords.  They  are  wise  and  sensible  enough  to 
know  what  may  serve  the  interests  of  the  city  and  of  us  in  the 
country,  and  how  to  order  matters  to  our  well-pleasing,  and  we 
will  always  stand  by  Our  Lords,  as  good,  honest  people.  And 
hence  we  pray,  that,  if  we  should  send  any  one  to  Kloten,  Our 
Lords  will  not  take  it  amiss ;  because  we  do  it  for  no  other 
purpose  than  to  give  good  counsel  and  advise  them  to  disperse/' 

The  congregation  of  Thaliceil  likewise  report,  that  they 
"heard  the  articles  read;  that  they  were  long  and  much  of 
them  they  could  not  understand,  and  therefore  could  give  but 
brief  answers.  Hence  they  would  let  the  former  answers  re- 
main ;  that  they  were  willing  to  place  person  and  property  at 
the  disposal  of  Our  Lords,  as  far  as  concerns  the  fatherland, 
and  they  must  stand  aloof  from  foreign  lords.  They  would 
send  to  Kloten  like  they  of  Kilchberg/' 

Still  more  confiding  was  the  answer  from  Ilorgen :  "  The  con- 
gregation of  the  people  of  the  bailiwicks  deplore  that  the  notice 
and  demand  should  be  necessary.  They  also  will  send  no  one 
either  to  Kloten  or  elsewhere,  if  Our  Lords  or  the  Canton  desire 
it,  for  they  wish  to  speak  and  to  do  their  best,  always  to  be 
obedient  to  Our  Lords  and  adhere  faithfully  to  the  Word  of 
God.  We  entrust  the  matter  to  Our  Lords,  who  know  well  what 
may  be  to  the  praise  and  honor  of  them  and  the  city." 

In  the  name  of  the  "  honest  men  of  Hocngg,"  the  envoys  of 
the  Council  were  informed,  that  they  would  not  lay  anything 
to  the  charge  of  others,  but  whatever  their  loving  neighbors  on 


180  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

Lake  Zurich  and  in  the  free  bailiwicks  would  agree  upon,  that 
would  satisfy  them  also ;  and  they  were  ready  to  place  wholly 
at  the  disposal  of  Oar  Lords^  in  the  hour  of  need^  their  persons 
and  property. 

They  of  Regensherg  complained,  that  several  of  their  neigh- 
bors had  threatened,  that,  if  they  did  not  go  to  Kloten  on 
Thursday,  "they  would  run  through  their  houses."  Therefore 
they  had  appointed  "  two  discreet  and  honorable  men;  but  still 
would  pledge  their  person  and  property  to  Our  Lords/' 

The  letter  from  the  bailiwick  of  Regcnstorf  bears  strong 
marks  of  a  clerical  pen  :  "  Since,  in  these  perilous  times,  various 
dissensions  have  arisen  between  you.  Our  Lords,  and  some  parts 
of  the  canton,  touching  tithes,  interest  and  other  grievances, 
out  of  which  sundry  conspiracies  and  meetings  have  grown  and 
prospered  so  far,  that  a  part  has  subscribed  the  other  article  and 
still  subscribes;  all  which  is  better  known  to  you  than  to  us; 
what  will  result  from  it  no  one  can  tell;  many  fear  more  evil 
than  good ;  may  God  overrule  all  for  the  best ! — Hitherto  we 
have  abstained  from  all  further  progress  in  these  affairs.  But 
now,  since  one  cries  out,  ^not  so,'  and  another,  'may  be  so,' 
and  we  have  been  invited  to  a  meeting  of  the  Kyburgcrs,  and 
their  deputies,  and  have  had  the  seventeen  articles  shown  to 
us — and  since,  after  all  this,  very  lately,  the  honorable  blaster 
Jos  von  Kusen  and  Master  Wegmann  were  sent  to  us  by  you 
with  friendly  greetings,  and  withheld  nothing  touching  affairs 
now  current  and  your  labor  and  trouble  therewith,  and  explained 
to  us  particularly,  by  word  and  writing,  about  the  three  com- 
munities of  Kyburg,  Grueuingen  and  Greifensee,  and  several 
other  matters,  and  asked  us  for  our  answer — we  then  resolved 
with  one  accord,  that  it  would  be  too  difficult  to  communicate 
such  a  reply  at  once,  and  therefore  desired  a  postponement  till 
to-day;  and  now  this  again  is  the  will,  vote  and  opinion  of  our 
community,  assembled  anew  coDceruing  this  business,  that  we 


LIFE    OF    Z-\VINGLI.  JgX 

will  Still,  and  so  long  as  you  act  in  a  Christian  manner  and 
faithfully,  according. to  the  Divine  Word,  place  our  lives  and 
property  at  your  disposal.  For  although,  if  we  thought  to  com- 
plain much  were  fit  and  proper  and  would  help  us,  we  wuuld 
lay  certain  grievances  and  articles  before  you,  yet,  on  the  other 
hand,  we  remember  the  teachings  of  the  holy  Evano-olists  and 
Apostles— which  warn  you  and  us,  and  show  how  one  part  ought 
to  conduct  itself  toward  the  other— and  your  diligence,  love,  con- 
cern and  labor  with  and  toward  us,  though  we  therein  have  per- 
ceived that  you  have  also  slackened  somewhat;  so,  then,  we  live 
in  hope  that  you  will  continue  to  act  as  tnie  fathers  are  bound  to 
do  toward  their  sons,  masters  toward  faithful  servants  and  pious 
rulers  toward  their  subjects ;  and  establish  whatsoever  is  pro- 
fitable, peaceful  and  Christian,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  you 
will  blot  out  and  uproot  whatsoever  is  ungodly,  unjust  and  unfair, 
and  therefore,  we  commit  the  whole  business  to  you.  as  our 
loving  lords;  for  such  we  esteem  you  according  to  the  flesh, 
and  in  conclusion, -pray  you  take  not  our  delay  amiss." 

Our  last  quotation  will  be  from  the  memorial  of  a  general  as- 
sembly in  Freiamt,  which  contains  the  following  singular  pas- 
sage :  "After  we  learned  from  you,  our  Lords,  many  articles 
of  the  bailiwicks  'beyond  you,'  we  find  in  them  some  things, 
which  please  us,  and  some  which  do  not.  But  yet  it  is  olir 
wish  to  remain  as  aforetime,  and  be  obedient  to  you,  our  Lords. 
But  as  several  things  have  been  referred  to  us  by  the  other 
bailiwicks,  they  ought  to  be  discussed  at  Metmenstetton,  and 
arbitrators,  who  will  act  for  the  best,  in  all  these  matters  sent 
thither.  \ie  wish  to  keep  free  from  sedition  with  our  persons 
and  property,  a.s  much  as  we  can,  and  trust  that  you  will  treat 
us  also  as  you  treat  the  other  bailiwicks.  Furthermore,  we 
hope  that  you  will  suffer  that  article  to  remain  to  us,  where- 
by no  man  may  be  seized  or  ridden  over,  who  has  law  on  his 
side,  as  the  bailiff's  roll  shows,  and  also,  as  regards  army-service 

10 


182  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

in  conjunction  with  tlie  confederates,  tliat  it  may  continue  as 
hitherto.  How  you  treat  with  the  cities,*  it  does  not  concern 
us.  Touching  the  clergy,  this  is  our  opinion :  If  we  give  to 
them  as  heretofore,  then  they  also  ought  not  to  deprive  us  of 
anything.  They  often  go  away  and  visit  each  other,  by  which 
we  lose  the  administration  of  the  several  sacraments.  And  we 
thought,  if  we  came  before  you.  Our  Lords,  you  would  believe 
them  rather  than  us;  which  has  occasioned  offence  to  the 
whole  parish." 

By  these  memorials  the  government  was  convinced  that  in  a 
great  part  of  the  canton,  and  especially  the  more  wealthy  and 
intelligent  portion,  there  was  still  determination  enough  to 
support  order,  and  hence  it  durst  venture  to  summon  deputies 
from  the  turbulent  districts  in  sufficient  numbers  to  a  conference 
before  the  Great  Council.  With  them  all  the  preachers  of  these 
districts  were  invited,  and  the  negotiations  took  place  on  22d 
of  June,  1525;  concerning  which  the  protocol  expresses  itself 
substantially  in  the  following  manner : 

'^  Whereas,  ye  deputies  from  the  duchy  of  Kyburg  and  the 
territories  of  Eglisau,  Greifcnsee,  Grueningen  Andelfingen, 
Buclach,  Neuamt  and  Ruemlang,  together  with  all  the  curates 
and  preachers,  have  sat  to-day  before  My  Lords  in  behalf  of  the 
articles,  in  which  the  members  of  the  several  communities  have 
thought  themselves  to  be  aggrieved,  and  especially  in  regard  to 
the  tithe,  and  thc^e  things  have  truly  come  to  light — that  here- 
tofore the  aforenamed  preachers  have  frequently  preached  from 
the  pulpit  and  elsewhere,  and  other  persons  have  assorted  in 
taverns  behind  their  wine,  that,  according  to  the  divine  law 
and  iustice,  no  one  is  bound  to  pay  tithes,  whereby  the  common 
people  have  become  seditious  and  strengthened  in  such  a  be- 
lief— and  whereas  in  order  to  reach  the  bottom  of  this  matter, 

■"■  Outside  of  the  Confederacy.  In  what  relation,  is  not  clear  from 
the  connection. 


LIFE   or    ZWINGLI.  183 

it  lias  been  discussed  and  handled  in  various  meetings,  and  ex- 
plained at  length  by  Master  Ulric  Zwingli,  that  in  the  beginning 
the  tithe  was  laid  for  a  pious  purpose,  though  afterward  perverted 
and  abused,  but  yet  that  it  was  a  just  debt  and  can  be  fairly 
complained  of  by  no  one — it  shall  be  henceforth  the  concern  of 
the  (jovernment  that  the  whole  tithe  be  restored  to  its  rio-ht 
channel  and  applied  to  the  wants  of  the  needy.  Because,  more- 
over, the  deputies  of  the  abovenanied  communities  have  made 
it  appear,  that  these  disorders  have  sprung  from  the  clergy  alone 
and  their  inconsistent  preaching,  and  they  have  thus  been 
taught  and  instructed,  and  hence  have  given  the  whole  business 
into  the  hands  of  Jdy  Lords ;  and  because  they  have  framed 
excuses  for  themselves  from  the  speeches  of  these  clergy,  since 
several  of  them  have  spoken  and  preached  more  for  disorder  and 
strife  than  brotherly  unity,  be  this  answer,  after  a  fair  hearing, 
given  to  the  rebels,  that  they  at  once  go  home  and  busy  them- 
selves in  peaceful  affairs,  and  if  there  are  any  good-for-aothin^ 
people  in  their  own  dioceses,  who  wish  to  stir  up  discord,  dis- 
order and  rebellion,  that  they  drive  them  off,  so  that  we  may 
not  again  witness  such  improper  and  wanton  doings,  as  lately 
happened  at  the  monasteries  of  Toess  and  Rueti ;  then  will  My 
Lords,  as  soon  as  other  business  permits,  sit  upon  their  articles, 
and  with  the  help  of  iMaster  Ulric  Zwingli  and  other  learned 
and  sensible  men,  take  counsel,  and  s-ce  what,  according  to  the 
Divine  Word,  can  be  remitted,  and  what  not.  But  in  the  mean- 
time, every  man  must  pay  interest  and  tithes  in  church  and 
state,  according  to  the  decree  last  issued."  .  Then  this  special 
admonition  was  directed  to  the  clergy:  "That  they  shall  look 
well  and  truly  into  the  Holy  Scriptures,  busy  themselves  with 
the  plain  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  practice  the  same,  and  strive 
more  after  peace  than  discord;  for  if  they  do  not  so,  the  re- 
fractory will  be  punished  according  to  his  desert  and  as  oppor- 
tunity allows.'' 


181  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

By  these  proceedings  the  malcontents  were  silenced  for  the 
present,  but  the  government  felt  that  something  more  was  needed 
for  the  restoration  of  order.  At  a  time,  when  the  religious 
movements  occasioned  new  and  unforseen  expenses  to  the  State, 
it  could  nut  abandon  any  of  its  former  sources  of  revenue. 
Hcuco  the  tithe-c|uestion  was  clothed  with  special  importance. 
All  the  tithes  were  not  church-property  ',  a  part  of  them  be- 
longed to  strangers,  to  whom  the  government  was  bound  to  give  its 
protection,  and  to  the  same  protection  the  church  also  had  a  claim, 
which  was  not  done  away,  but  only  changed.  Besides  a  mere 
declaration  on  the  part  of  the  government,  that  the  tithe  must  be 
paid,  nothing  more  was  done.  But  conviction  had  to  be  wrought 
in  the  public  mind,  and  to  do  this,  again  devolved  on  Zwingli. 

But  before  he  laid  the  subject  before  the  people,  he  endeavored 
to  settle  whatever  was  unstable  and  wavering  in  the  opinions  of 
the  Great  Council,  so  that  tlie  authorities  might  proceed  the 
more  firmly  in  their  line. of  action.  Still  the  belief  prevailed 
among  many  of  the  members,  that  the  tithe  was  purely  a  re- 
ligious aifair,  and  this  position  was  strongly  maintained  by  the 
Secretary,  am  Gruet,  who,  Bible  in  hand,  met  Zwingli  with  his 
own  weapons.  It  is  true,  that  here  he  could  only  appeal  to  the 
Old  Testament,  but  this  yet  held  too  important  a  place  in 
Zwingli's  system  of  doctrines,  to  suffer  the  Reformer  lightly  to 
reject  its  authority  for  an  isolated  case.  lie  showed,  however, 
in  a  long  and  spirited  debate  with  am  Gniet,  before  the  Great 
Council  and  a  crowd  of  other  hearers,  that  the  Levitical  priesthood, 
for  whom  the  tithe  had  been  introduced  into  the  Old  Testament, 
came  to  an  end  with  the  Gospel ;  and  by  this,  according  to  his 
view,  the  question  had  been  brought  back  from  the  sphere  of 
religion  into  that  of  civil  law.  But  neither  am  Gruet,  on  the 
one  side,  nor  the  Anabaptists  on  the  other,  were  disposed  to  let 
hiui  slip  with  so  cheap  a  victory.  Am  Gruet  would  yield  no- 
thing, and  in  fact  the  following  passage  is  found  in  the  protocol 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  185 

of  the  Great  Council,  "ihsit  neither  of  the  two  contending 
parties  has  so  triumphed  that  the  other  is  obliged  to  yield,  and 
that  My  Lords  are  not  displeased  with  the  warning  and  expo- 
sition of  their  Secretary,  but  think  he  has  acted  according  to 
his  duty  and  his  oath/^  ]>ut  the  decisive  battle,  which  now 
drew  near,  was  first  to  be  fought  with  the  Anabaptists. 

During  the  interval,  Zwingli  prepared  for  the  people  a  de- 
tailed exposition  of  the  rights  of  the  church  and  state  to  the 
tithe,  which  the  government  then  used  as  a  general  and  final 
decree  for  the  disturbed  districts.  The  scrupulous  payment  of 
the  great  tithe*  for  the  future  was  also  enjoined  upon  them  in 
an  earnest  tone.  In  regard  to  the  so-called  little  tithe,  the 
government  promised  strict  inquiry,  the  removal  of  abuses,  and 
a  diminution  of  it,  as  far  as  possible. 

In  the  gretiter  part  of  the  canton,  through  the  cautious  language 
of  the  Council,  the  exhortations  of  the  more  sensible,  and  the 
conviction,  which  won  its  way  into  the  minds  of  many,  civil 
order  was  re-established.  One  of  the  creators  of  disturbance, 
Sucsstrunk  by  name,  was  indeed  put  to  death  by  the  sword, 
and  the  pastor  of  Wcstenbach,  who  especially  distinguished 
himself  by  his  ill-timed  discourses,  was  thrown  into  prison  for 
several  days  and  punished  with  a  fine — acts  easy  to  be  explained, 
when  we  consider  the  severity  of  punishments  in  that  age  and 
the  grievous  losses,  which  the  state  suffered  by  this  insurrection. 

Only  one  district  of  the  Canton  was  not  yet  pacified  :  the 
territory  of  Grueningen.  Here  the  Anabaptists  still  retained 
numerous  adherents,  and  these  Anabaptists  and  their  fierce 
battle  with  Zwingli  are  the  objects  to  which  we  must  now  turn 
our  attention. 

The  Holy  Scripture  is  the  great  record  of  the  religious  edu- 

*  This  includod  not  only  tho  seven  articles,  (corn,  rye,  oats,  barley, 
wheat,  wine,  hay),  but  whatever  else  each  district  had  paid  into  tbo  * 
great  tithe  from  time  immemorial. 

16* 


186  LIFE    OF    Z\YINGLI. 

cation  of  tlie  liuman  race.  It  shows  us  man  primeval  in  the 
unconscious  innocence  of  nature;  then  the  patriarchal  era  with 
its  simple,  uniform  manners  along  with  its  untamed  passion ; 
and  then  again  the  most  active  intercourse  of  nations,  the  most 
savage  wars,  the  hierarchical  state  and  the  elective  and  hered- 
itary monarchy.  It  gives  us  lofty  poetry  in  the  Psalms,  the 
grandest  didactic  poem  in  the  Book  of  Job,  and  a  collection  of 
proverbs,  the  fruit  of  the  ripest  experience  and  knowledge  of 
life.  It  makes  us  acquainted  wath  idolatry  in  its  most  fearful  de- 
generacy, and  then,  with  the  adoration  of  o«eGod  and  the  conflict, 
rising  to  the  highest  pitch  of  heroism,  against  this  degeneracy. 
But  this  God  is  a  mere  national  God,  to  be  known  only  within 
the  confined  limits  of  the  Jewish  state,  living  personally  only 
here,  in  and  with  the  people.  We  see  the  consequences  of  this 
contracted  view  :  hate  instead  of  love,  stubbornness  instead  of 
docility,  stagnation  instead  of  progress.  With  this  first  period 
the  books  of  the  Old  Testament  close. 

Is  it  possible  to  understand  the  Gospel,  wliich  now  follows, 
in  its  grandeur,  truth,  purity  and  love,  without  a  knowledge  of 
the  age,  which  preceded  it?  or  the  prejudices,  against  which, 
He,  who  revealed  it,  had  to  contend  ?  We  find  varying  opinions 
among  those  who  wrote  it — the  stamp  of  diverse  authorship  • 
here  Judaistic  narrowness,  there  freer  elevation,  homely  sim- 
plicity, and  again  deep  glow  and  feeling.  We  even  find  con- 
tradictions, historical  and  chronological,  and  yet,  what  unity  in 
all  that  is  essential — what  agreement  in  all  that  contributes  to 
peace  in  life  and  comfort  in  the  hour  of  death ;  in  all  that 
determines  our  actions  and  confers  worth  upon  them  !  Are 
there  any  other  writings,  for  whose  investigation,  for  whose 
explanation,  so  much  sagacity,  so  much  science,  so  much  con- 
scientiousness are  demanded  ?  Such  are  the  questions,  which 
very  naturally  crowd  upon  us,  wdien  we  once  more  survey  the 
111  .n,  in  v.hom  all  these  qualifications  are  joined,  as  he  goes  forth 


LIFE    OF    Z  WING  LI.  187 

to  battle  with  a  multitude  of  others,  who  possess  them  only 
partially  and  hence  dangerously. 

And  thus  we  return  again  to  those  disturbers,  before  alluded 
to,  in  the  bosom  of  the  Ileformed  party,  who  assailed  Zwingli 
more  boldly  than  any  monk,  and  whose  scientific  culture,  adroit- 
ness, and,  in  the  end,  desperation,  prepared  for  him  a  far  more 
violent  conflict.  Conrad  Grebel  has  already  been  represented 
to  us  as  morally  and  phj'sically  depraved.  The  higher  spirit, 
which  once  attracted  Zwiugli's  entire  love  to  him  as  a  youth, 
richly  endowed  by  nature,  had  not  yet  sunk  so  far,  that  it  did 
not  show  some  clear  sparks,  and  sometimes  even  break  out  into 
a  momentary  blaze. 

But  when  he  saw  that  Zwingli  penetrated  his  inmost  soul, 
understood,  pitied  and  then  despised  him,  he  conceived  the 
most  intense  bitterness  against  him,  which  at  last  deepened  into 
hatred — hatred  that  stopped  at  no  means  to  secure  revenge. 
Gathering  all  his  strength,  nerving  all  his  powers  to  their  highest 
pitch,  his  self-confidence  increased ;  the  various  modes  of  in- 
terpretation, which  isolated  passages  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
admit,  made  it  possible  for  him  to  maintain,  with  a  tolerable 
appearance  of  truth  and  certainty,  dogmas  at  variance  with  those 
of  Zwinuli.  The  support,  which  he  found  from  those  of  like 
mind,  the  followers  who  adhered  to  him,  awakened  in  the  head 
of  this  fanatic  the  delusion  that  he  had  received  a  call  to  be 
a  prophet,  and  pictured  to  him  a  final  victory  over  Zwingli,  or 
at  least  placed  in  view  the  crown  of  martyrdom,  in  which  latter, 
one  and  another  of  them,  perhaps,  saw,  not  without  an  inward 
satisfaction,  an  atonement  for  the  conscious  guilt  of  their  former 
lives.  Here  again,  the  simple  presentation  of  the  facts  will 
furnish  proof  for  this  opinion. 

''May  God  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  grant  it!"  wrote 
Martin  Luther,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1525,  "since 
a  new  storm  is  brewino:.     1  had  almost  settled  down  to  rest, 


188  LIFE    OF    Z^VINGLI. 

thinking  tlie  battle  over,  when  all  at  once  this  rises  up,  and  it 
happens  to  me  as  the  ^Yise  man  says  :  If  a  man  leave  off,  then 
he  must  begin  again.  Doctor  Andrew  Carlstadt  has  deserted 
us  and  become  our  bitterest  enemy."  This  defection  of  Carl- 
stadt, who  wished  to  proceed  in  the  work  of  reformation  more 
thoroughly  than  Luther,  demanding  the  destruction  of  images, 
and  setting  very  little  value  on  external  worship,  was  spoken  of 
with  praise  everywhere,  and  especially  at  Waldshut,  by  Thomas 
Itlueuzer,  during  his  visit  to  the  borders  of  Switzerland,  about 
the  middle  of  the  year  1524.  Muenzer  likewise  professed  these 
same  principles,  yea,  was  ready,  for  his  part,  to  go  still  further 
than  Carlstadt  himself.  Just  at  this  time,  the  fanatical  pro- 
ceedings in  Zollikon,  before  described,  the  breaking  of  the 
images  there  and  the  removal  of  the  baptismal  font,  took  place. 
That  Grebel  and  Manz  were  privy  to  this,  and  made  frequent 
journeys  to  and  from  Zollikon,  appears  with  entire  certainty 
from  reports  afterward  received.  With  Muenzer  they  did  not 
become  personally  acquainted.  Before  they  could  accomplish 
this,  he  had  traveled  back  to  Germany;  but  his  influence  on 
Swiss  afi'airs  is  evident  from  two  letters  sent  to  him  soon  after 
by  Grebel  and  his  friends. 

"  Dear  brother  Thomas,"  began  one  of  them,  "  for  God's 
sake,  do  not  be  surprised,  that  we  address  thee  without  title 
and  urge  thee  as  a  brother  to  communicate  with  us  by  writing 
in  the  future,  and  that  we,  uninvited  and  unacquainted  with 
thee,  have  ventured  to  open  up  a  correspondence.  God's  Son, 
Jesus  Christ,  has  prompted  and  impelled  us  to  this  act  of 
friendship  and  brotherhood,  and  to  make  known  the  following 
points.  Moreover  thy  work  in  two  small  volumes,  on  *  Faith 
Feigned,'  have  encouraged  us.  Hence,  if  thou  wilt  take  it 
kindly,  it  shall  be  a  source  of  good  to  us,  if  God  will.  Thou 
shouldst  also  know  that  thou  along  with  Carolostadtius  art 
esteemed  amongst  us  as  the  purest  proclaimer  and   preacher 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  189 

of  the  pure  Word  of  God,  although  ye  are  little  thought  of  by  the 
lazy  theologians  and  doctors  at  Wittemberg.  AVe  are  also  thus 
reprobate  toward  our  learned  pastors.  With  them  everything 
depends  on  man,  everything  is  done  by  him,  so  that  they  preach 
a  sinful,  pleasant  Christ,  and  good  discrimination  is  wanting  to 
them,  as  thou  shewest  in  thy  little  books,  which  have  beyond 
measure  instructed  and  strengthened  us  poor  folks."  But  then, 
passing  over  the  chief  point,  re-baptism,  which  had  won  for  them 
a  party  in  Zurich,  and  as  a  badge  of  confession,  as  a  banner,  had 
enabled  them  to  keep  together — they  thu'S  continue :  "  Because 
thou  also  hast  uttered  thy  protest  against  infant-baptism,  we  trust 
thou  actest  not  against  the  eternal  word,  wisdom  and  command  of 
God,  according  to  which  we  ought  to  baptise  believers  alone,  and 
thou  baptisest  no  child.  If  thou,  or  Garolostadius  will  not  write  in 
full  against  infant-baptism  with  all  that  belongs  thereto,  why  and 
how  we  ought  to  baptise,  then  will  I,  Conrad  Grebel,  try  my  hand 
and  complete  what  I  have  begun,  against  all  who  hitherto  (except 
thee)  have  written  on  baptism  at  large  a-nd  deliberately,  and  main- 
tained the  senseless,  blasphemous  form  of  inftmt-baptism;  but  if 
God  do  not  prevent  then  am  I,  and  then  will  I  and  all  of  us  be  sure 
of  persecution  from  the  leained  and  other  people."  Grebel  also 
wrote  to  Luther  and  informed  Muerner  of  it,  in  his  second  letter, 
in  which,  moreover,  he  warns  him  not  to  preach  resistance  against 
princes  with  carnal  weapons.  <'  For  if  thou  must  suffer  on  account 
of  thy  doctrines  know  indeed  that  it  cannot  be  otherwise.  Christ 
must  still  suffer  in  his  members.  But  he  will  strengthen  them  and 
keep  them  firm  unto  the  end.  God  grant  his  grace  to  thee  and  us. 
For  cur  parsons  are  also  fierce  and  wrathful  toward  us,  and  call  us 
villains  in  the  open  pulpit  and  Satannasinangelos  lucis  convertos 
(wicked  spirits  in  the  garb  of  angels  of  light).  In  time  we  will 
see  this  persecution  pass  over  us.     Therefore  pray  God  for  me.""^ 

■"-  The  subscription  of  this  letter  is  cliaracteristic :  Conrad  Grebel, 
Andreas  Castclberg,  Felix  Manz,  llciuricli  Abcrlj,  Johauues  Brocdliu, 


190  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Ill  accordance  with  this  view,  Grebel  aud  his  friends  prudently 
avoided  stirring  up  any  formal  rebellion.  And  there  is  nothing 
at  all  to  show  that  they  had  any  direct  share  in  the  political 
movements,  which  we  have  already  narrated,  although  their 
doctrines  concerning  the  fraternal  communion  of  Christians 
and  the  unscripturalncss  of  tithes  and  rents,  as  they  uttered 
them  in  general  terms,  could  not  but  exert  an  indirect  influence 
upon  them.  But  in  these  discourses  they  always  added  ex- 
hortations to  a  resistance  merely  passive.  By  this  means  they 
attracted  a  crowd  of  followers,  persons  of  excitable  feelings  and 
women  especially,  just  in  proportion  as  the  doctrine  of  martyr- 
dom stood  high  in  the  Catholic  church.  Indeed  it  often  seemed 
as  if  persecution  was  only  delayed  too  long  for  these  people. 
Grebel  thus  wrote  to  Vadianus :  '^  They  talk  of  disturbers.  They 
can  he  known  by  their  fruits — decrees  of  exile  and  executions 
by  the  sword.  I  do  not  think  the  persecution  will  be  delayed." 
But  neither  Zwingli  nor  the  government  thought  of  such  a 
proceeding.  They  freely  confessed  that  this  would  only  aggra- 
vate the  evil. 

First  then,  because  already,  at  sundry  times,  whole  troops  of 
these  deluded  creatures  from  Zollikon  aud  the  neighboring 
country,  had  come  into  the  city,  clad  in  sackcloth  and  ashes, 
and  girt  about  with  ropes,  and  cried  out  in  the  public  squares  : 
"Wo  to  Zurich !"  and  because  a  so-called  confession  of  one  of 
their  number,  a  former  monk,  who  usually  went  by  the  name 
of  George  Blaurock  (Bluecoat)  and  whom  his  disciples  hailed 
as  a  second  Paul,  was  spread  far  and  wide  and  made  a  great 
noise,  the  government  ordered  a  conference  to  be  held  with 
them  at  the  council-house.  The  following  are  the  literal  contents 
of  Blaurock's  Confession :  "  I  am  a  door.     He  who  enters  by  me 

Hans  Oggcnfuss,  Hans  Huiuf,  thy  countrymen  of  Hall,  and  seven  new 
ditciplcs  of  Mucnzer  rather  than  Luther, 


LIFE    or    ZWINGLI.  191 

will  find  pasture,  but  he  who  enters  elsewhere,  is  a  thief  and  a 
murderer,  as  it  is  written :  I  am  a  good  shepherd ;  a  good  shep- 
herd lays  down  his  Ufe  for  his  sheep ',  so  I  also  give  my  body 
and  life  and  soul  for  my  sheep,  my  body  to  the  tower  and  my 
life  to  the  sword,  or  fire,  or  the  wine-press,  where  it  will  be 
pressed  out  of  the  flesh  as  the  blood  of  Christ  on  the  cross.  I 
am  a  beginner  of  baptism  and  the  bread  of  the  Lord,  along  with 
my  chosen  brethren,  Conrad  Grebel  and  Felix  Manz.  There- 
fore, the  Pope  with  all  his  followers  is  a  thief  and  a  murderer; 
in  like  manner,  Luther  with  all  his  followers  is  a  thief  and  a 
murderer ;  Zwins-li  also  and  Leo  Judas  with  all  their  followers 
are  thieves  and  murderers,  until  they  make  this  same  confession 
also.  I  have  asked  my  gracious  Lords  of  Zurich,  and  still  ask 
them,  for  leave  to  dispute  with  Ulrich  Zwingli  and  Leo  Juda3 ; 
I  may  not  obtain  it,  but  yet  I  await  the  hoar,  which  my 
Heavenly  Father  has  ordained  therefor." 

This  hour  came  on  the  17th  of  January,  1525.  Bullinger, 
who  was  personally  present,  gives  a  description,  but  only  a  brief 
one,  of  the  event.  The  Great  Council,  the  scholars  and  the 
clergy  were  there;  Manz,  Grebel,  Blaurock,  Roeubli,  Ludwig 
riaetzer,  of  whose  work  against  images  we  have  before  spoken, 
were  the  chief  antagonists  of  Zwingli.  The  latter  began  with 
an  acknowledgment,  that  for  some  years  he  had  himself  been  of 
the  opinion,  that  it  were  better  to  postpone  ih.e  baptism  of  in- 
fants to  a  more  advanced  age,  but,  after  mature  reflection,  had 
reached  a  difi"erent  conviction,  which  he  thought  sustained  by 
the  true  sense  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  then  he  unfolded  this 
in  an  extended  conversation  with  the  Anabaptists.  Whoever 
desires  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of  his  views  on  this  point 
will  find  them  in  his  work  on  "Baptism,  Be-baptism  and  Infant 
Baptism.''  *     His  main  arguments  for  the  latter  were  the  fol- 

*  Uuldreieh  ZifingWs  Werke.  Ilerausg.  von  Schuler  uud  SchuUhess. 
Band  II.  Abthg.  1.  S.  230.  fif. 


192  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

lowing:  Baptism  is  the  external  sign  of  admission  into  tlie 
society  of  Christians.  To  have  received  it  once  is  sufficient. 
Adults  were  baptised  by  the  Apostles,  because  they  who  first 
joined  the  church  were  of  full  age.  The  Holy  Scriptures  con- 
tain indeed  no  e.srample  of  infant-baptism;  but  then  just  as 
little  can  be  proven  from  them,  that  it  was  not  practised. 
Mention  of  it  occurs  in  the  very  oldest  church-fathers.  It  took 
the  place  of  circumcision,  which  had  been  commanded  in  the 
Old  Testament,  and  strengthened  the  obligations  of  Christian 
parents,  whilst  it  became  to  the  children  themselves  a  pledge 
and  perpetual  token  of  fidelity  to  Ilim  who  lovingly  bade  little 
children  even  to  be  brought  to  Him. 

Light  triumphed  over  darkness,  science  over  sophistry,  calm- 
ness over  passion  and  stubbornness,  the  church  over  the  sect, 
and  the  friend  of  reason  and  order  over  the  demagogues.  But 
it  was  a  victory  known  only  to  the  higher  and  educated  classes; 
the  people  remained,  and  now  the  fanatics  appealed  to  them, 
giving  out  everywhere,  that  Zwingli  had  not  been  able  to  with- 
stand them.  They  held  firmly  to  the  letter,  that  resort  of 
all  intriguers  and  wranglers.  Meanwhile,  the  Council  resolved, 
the  next  day,  that  all  children  should  be  baptised  within  a 
week,  that  they,  who  would  not  permit  it,  should  be  banished 
from  the  canton;  and  that  the  congregation  in  Zollikon  should 
restore  the  baptismal  font.  Grebel  and  Manz  were  enjoined  to 
keep  the  peace.  There  was  to  be  no  more  controversy  about 
baptism,  but,  if  desired,  other  articles  of  faith  might  be  dis- 
cussed. Ptoeubli,  Broedlein  and  Ludwig  Ha;tzer  received  an 
order  to  leave  the  district  within  eight  days. 

But  now  resistance  began  with  appeals  to  the  Scripture,  that 
we  oug;ht  to  obey  God  rather  than  men.  Eocubli,  Broedlein 
and  Hirtzer  left  the  canton;  but  the  first  kept  up  an  exciting  cor- 
respondence with  his  followers,  from  Waldshut,  whither  he  had 
betaken  himself,  and  Broedlein,  from  Hallan.     The  latter  wrote : 


LIFE  OF  Z^T^NGLI.  193 

^^  John,  a  seiTant  of  Jesus  Christ,  called  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
to  the  pious  Christians,  called  of  God,  iu  the  Christian  congrega- 
tion at  Zollikon.  Ye  know,  dear  brethren,  how  I  proclaimed 
to  you  the  Word  of  God  faithfully,  clearly,  simply,  and  did  not 
deal  with  it  as  treacherous  landlords,  who  pour  water  into  the 
wine;  ye  know,  how  I  have  had  courage,  to  live  among  you,  to 
labor  with  my  own  hands  and  burden  no  one;  ye  know  also, 
that  for  the  truth's  sake  I  have  been  driven  from  you  by  the 
will  of  God;  finally,  ye  know,  how  faithfully  I  have  warned  you 
not  to  fall  away  from  grace.  This  very  day  I  call  heaven  and 
earth  to  witness  that  I  taught  you  the  truth.  Abide  in  it,  and 
ye  are  God's,  and  He  is  yours,  and  ye  are  blessed.  Fall  away 
from  it,  and  ye  are  children  of  wrath,  and  God  is  far  from  you ; 
ye  are  wretched  orphans,  and  will  flee  before  the  moth.  0  how 
ardent  and  joyful  have  I  been,  since  I  came  from  you !  Verily, 
I  have  not  wept,  but  sung.  0  how  glad  I  will  be,  if  God  suf- 
fers me  to  return  to  you  again !  "When  I  had  gone  some  dis- 
tance, Christ  came  to  us;  yea,  Christ  in  the  person  of  his  dis- 
ciple; for  a  pious  brother  of  Bern,  Christian  by  name,  traveled 
with  us  as  far  as  Kloten,  and  left  us  the  next  day.  Verily, 
verily,  I  often  slipped  on  the  road,  but  did  not  fall.  Verily, 
verily,  when  we  got  over  Eglisau,  I  and  Wilhelm  ( Piocubli ) 
despaired  of  our  lives.  I  thought  God  had  forsaken  us.  We 
lost  the  right  path,  and  wandered  about  all  that  day,  even 
among  sticks  and  bushes.  But  God  had  thus  willed  it.  Short- 
ly we  came  to  pious  people  and  at  last  to  Hallau.  I  left  my 
wife  and  children  there,  and  we  went  over  to  Sehaif  hausen. 
Verily,  we  found  there  our  dear  brother,  Conrad  G rebel.  We 
visited  Doctor  Sebastian  (Hofmeister)  and  took  supper  with 
him.  Verily,  he  is  of  one  accord  with  us  in  the  matter  of  bap- 
tism. Would  to  God,  it  stood  better  with  him  in  other  things. 
We  returned  again  to  Hallan.  The  day  after,  Wilhelm  went  to 
Waldshut.     On  the  next  Sunday  after  Candlemas,  I   preached 

17 


194  LIFE   OF   ZWIXGLl. 

in  Hallan  and  found  a  great  harvest  tliere,  but  few  reapers. 
The  people  earnestly  desired  to  hear  me,  and  to  this  very  day 
desire  it.  The  clergy  are  as  they  may  be.  Antichrist  still 
rules  powerfully  among  the  people.  Pray  God  to  enlighten 
them.  Dear  brethren^  abide  in  faith,  love  and  hope.  Let  no 
one  terrify  you.  He  who  preaches  to  you  any  other  Gospel, 
than  I  have  preached,  let  him  be  accursed.  Greet  one  another 
with  the  kiss  of  peace.  Beware  of  every  brother,  who  acts 
disorderly  and  not  according  to  that,  which  he  and  you  have 
learned.  Beware  of  false  prophets,  who  preach  for  pay.  Shun 
them.  Exhort  ye  one  another  and  continue  in  the  doctrine, 
which  ye  have  received.  The  peace  of  God  be  with  you  all  !'^ 
That  a  letter  of  this  sort — that  the  incessant  exhortation  and 
preaching  of  the  leaders  of  the  fanatics,  who  remained  behind, 
bore  legitimate  fruit,  was  soon  apparent  from  a  succession  of  ex- 
travagant scenes  in  all  parts  of  the  canton.  In  entire  districts 
the  women  particularly  rose  up.  Troops  of  them  streamed 
together,  if  any  of  these  apostles  came  into  the  neighborhood, 
and  begged  from  them  re-baptism,  or  a  sermon.  The  edicts  of 
the  government  were  praised  by  some,  but  scorned  by  others ; 
even  the  clergy  assailed  them  and  strife  sprang  up  in  the 
churches.  We  have  a  lively  picture  of  a  scene  of  this  kind 
in  a  letter  from  the  Commander  Schmied.  "In  the  action 
taken" — he  writes — "before  the  congregation  at  Eck,  on  ac- 
count of  your  edict.  My  Lords,  Pastor  Bodmer,  of  EssliDgen, 
called  for  Christian  excommunication,  i.  e.  the  overthrow  and 
rejection  of  your  authority  in  the  matter  of  baptism.  There- 
upon Master  Laurence  told  him,  that  he  and  his  followers  had 
hitherto  prevented  Christian  excommunication.  Then  Pastor 
Bodmer  walked  up  and  said  to  Master  Laurence :  You  lie  like 
a  vagabond  and  knave,  and  if  he  abused  him  as  a  Baptist,  he 
did  not  speak  like  a  gentleman.  Sir  Burgomaster  !  That  such 
a  worthy  and  Christian  man  as  iMastcr   Laurence  should  be 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  195 

called  a  vagabond  and  knave  before  bis  own  cburcb,  and  tbat 
by  a  Baptist,  as  was  certainly  done,  is  to  me  intolerable,  and  I 
ask  that  he  m;iy  be  helped  to  his  just  rights,  so  that  such  things 
occur  not  again.  There  was  such  an  uproar  in  the  chuich — 
they  all  rose  up,  joined  together,  pressed  forward  and  crowded 
so  kn&vishly  through  each  other,  that  Master  Laurence  could  not 
observe  who  did  it.  Then  the  siihvogt  commanded  peace. 
Such  an  outbreak  did  this  Baptist  produce." 

This,  and  reports  of  a  similar  character,  which  were  sent  in  from 
the  canton,  induced  the  government  to  place  Grebel,  Manz,  and 
some  dozen  of  the  most  stiff-necked  rebels  of  respectable  edu- 
cation in  the  monastery  of  the  Augustines,  where  Zwingli  and 
the  two  other  people's  priests  of  the  city  received  orders  to  visit 
them  frequently.  It  was  hoped  they  would  be  finally  set  right. 
But  what  a  triumph  it  was  for  them,  when  they  succeeded  in 
puzzling  Zwingli  with  one  of  his  own  assertions  !  He  had  said 
that  no  one,  according  to  the  New  Testament,  had  been  bap- 
tised a  second  time.  Bid  .he  not  know  that  Paul  rebaptised 
those  twelve  in  Ephesus,  who  had  already  been  baptised  by 
John?*  The  report  of  this  victory  over  the  hitherto  invincible 
champion  spread  through  the  canton  with  amazing  rapidity. 
<'  He  is  fallen,"  so  they  cried, ''  the  false  prophet,  the  great  dragon ; 
the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  with  us.  The  Gospel  will  now  be 
everywhere  brought,  to  light.  Away  with  taxes !  Away  with 
the  sword !  No  Christian  will  wish  to  be  a  ruler !  We  are  all 
brethren.  Sell  your  goods,  lay  all  together  on  one  heap.  Let 
there  be  no  poor  any  longer  and  no  rich ! "  A  second  conference 
before  a  select  assembly  had  now  but  little  influence.  The 
matter  must  be  decided  before  the  people,  and  Zwingli  began 
to  arm  himself  for  the  work.  Meanwhile,  he  grappled  with  the 
subject  in  his  sermons.  He  showed  the  difference  between  the 
baptism  of  John  and  that  of  Paul,  brought  out  the  antagonism 

*  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  xix,  3-5. 


196  LIFE   or   ZWINGLI. 

between  the  letter  and  tlie  spirit,  and  unfolded  the  consequences 
of  the  doctrines  of  the  deluded  fanatics,  in  such  a  clear,  lively 
and  convincing  manner,  that  a  storm  of  a2)plause  resounded 
through  the  church  at  the  close  of  one  of  these  sermons.  The 
city  was  won. 

But  the  canton  yet  remained.  ^'  Zwingli  has  the  advantage 
in  the  protection  of  the  government  and  the  city,"  they  cried. 
''Those,  who  are  best  able  to  contend  with  him,  have  been 
exiled,  or  not  permitted  to  appear.  Had  it  been  otherwise,  he 
must  have  yielded.'^  Many  honest,  well-meaning  people  believed 
this;  and  the  following  petition,  sent  into  the  government, 
soems  to  have  sprung  from  such  a  belief :  ^'  Honorable,  wise, 
gracious  Lords,  we  are  indeed  free  to  confess,  that  you  have 
trouble  and  labor  on  our  account,  and  on  the  other  hand,  that 
we  are  daily  involved  in  great  anxiety.  Now,  we  are  willing  t-o 
suffer,  and  call  upon  God  to  help  you  and  us  to  peace,  which 
can  indeed  be  brought  about,  if  Your  Worships  propose  a  pub- 
lic conference,  and  invite  other  people  to  it;  let  them  be  those, 
who  have  been  cast  out  because  of  this  business,  and  others 
also.  Then,  whate\'er  is  established  from  the  Word  of  God,  to 
that  we  pledge  you  our  bodies  and  our  lives,  our  honor  and  our 
goods.  But  if  indeed  you  wish  an  answer  from  us,  it  can  be 
nothing  else,  than  the  public  confession,  that  we  have  not  grace 
from  God  to  talk  with  ]Master  Ulric,  so  that  he  can  understand 
us,  or  ability  to  speak  straight  from  the  heart. 

'^  Therefore,  we  pray  you,  gracious  Lords,  to  permit  one  or 
two  men  at  our  cost  to  enter  your  city  with  a  sufficient  assurance 
of  a  safe  return,  since  they  durst  not  travel  every  road  for  the 
sake  of  the  Divine  Word,  because  Master  Ulric  himself  has  not 
hitherto  shown  them  much  favor.  These  shall  point  out  on  our 
behalf  all  the  Scriptures,  so  that  every  man  may  thoroughly 
perceive  whether  he  has  been  right  or  wrong  in  his  views  of 
them.     Oh  God !  we  desire  nothing  else  than  truth  and  right- 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  197 

eousness,  in  which  by  the  grace  of  God  we  wish  to  continue  till 
death.  Then,  as  we  have  always  declared  to  you,  gracious 
Lords,  we  will  pledge  our  bodies  and  lives  to  Your  Worships 
and  to  the  Word  of  God  and  Divine  righteousness,  gracious 
Lords !  Let  the  matter,  for  God's  sake,  come  before  a  public 
conference,  as  in  the  case  of  images  and  the  mass.  Believe  us 
truly;  we  wish  to  do  what  is  right.  May  God  help  us  thereto ! 
We  hope  and  know  that  the  truth  of  the  Divine  Word  will 
come  clearly  to  light,  and  Your  Worships  will  be  content  with 
us.  Give  us,  therefore,  for  the  sake  of  God  and  his  mercy,  a 
favorable  answer.'^ 

Upon  this,  Zwingii  himself  requested  the  government  to  in- 
stitute a  public  conference,  and  the  order  for  it  was  drawn  up 
on  Monday,  November  6th,  1525,  with  a  full  and  free  safe-conduct 
for  all  those,  who  thought  themselves  in  a  condition  to  defend 
their  variant  doctrines.     Zwingii,  Leo  Jud£e  and  Caspar  Gross- 
man, people's  priests  at  the  Dominican  church,  were  selected  as 
champions  to  make  reply;  and  Wolfgang  Joner,  abbot  at  Cappel, 
the  Commander  Schmied,  Sebastian  Hofmeister  of  Schaif  hausen, 
and  Vadianus  of  St.  Gall,  as  presidents  for  the  occasion.     The 
Anabaptists  appeared  in  numbers  under  their  leaders,  Manz, 
Grebel  and  Elaurock;  many  of  them  had  come  from  distant 
countries;  the  department  of  Grueningen,  at  the  command  of 
the  government,  sent  thither  twelve  deputies.     Scarcely  had 
the  conference  opened  at  the  Council  House,  in  presence  of  the 
Two  Hundred  and  a  crowd  of  hearers,  who  filled  up  all  the 
chamber,   when   a  newly   arrived    troop   of    fanatics    pressed 
in  with  the  cry  :  "  0  Zion !     0  Zion  I     Rejoice  0  Jerusalem  I" 
and  threw   everything  into  confusion.     To  prevent  such  dis- 
tm-bances  and  to  obtain  more  room,  the  assembly  removed  to 
the  church  of  the  Great  Minster.     Here  the  battle  continued 
for  three  days,  from  morning  till  late  in  the  evening.     Speech 
was  denied  to  no  one :  access  to  none,  who  wished  to  hear. 


198  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

Public  opinion  grew  more  favorable  to  the  people's  priests.  On 
the  third  day  the  attacks  of  the  Anabaptists  became  weaker; 
their  sel'f-confidence  vanished.  Only  one  of  them,  who  had  re- 
peatedly asserted  that  he  could  end  the  contest  with  cne  word, 
but  had  still  been  held  back  by  his  associates,  who  themselves 
thought  him  too  wild,  broke  through  at  last  and  placed  him- 
self, ^ith  an  inflamed  visage,  and  all  the  motions  of  a  conjurer, 
before  the  people's  priest,  and  cried  out:  "Zwingli,  I  conjure 
thee,  by  the  living  God,  to  tell  us  the  truth."  The  latter  an- 
swered very  calmly:  ''That  shalt  thou  hear.  Thou  art  as 
clownish  and  seditious  a  peasant,  and  as  simple  as  any  Our  Lords 
have  in  the  canton."  A  universal  roar  of  laughter  followed, 
and  the  act  was  closed. 

The  government  then  issued  a  public  statement  concerning 
the  events  of  this  controversy,  which,  along  with  other  thing-s, 
concluded  with  the  following  words :  ''  After  the  Anabaptists 
and  their  followers  have  disputed  three  days,  from  morning  till 
evening,  in  our  Council  House  and  the  Great  Mins;er,  in  our 
presence  and  that  of  a  large  crowd  of  men  and  women,  and 
every  Baptist  has  spoken  all  he  had  to  say,  without  let  or 
hindrance,  it  has  at  last  been  found  from  the  most  powerful 
arguments,  based  upon  the  Word  of  God,  that  Master  Ulric 
Zwingli  and  his  associates  have  fairly  conquered  the  Anabaptists, 
annihilated  re-baptism,  and  upheld  the  baptism  of  infants.  It 
has  also  been  clearly  evident,  during  the  entire  conference,  that 
the  creators,  defenders,  sectarians  and  wranglers  of  Anabaptism 
have  played  their  part  in  a  wicked,  bold,  and  shameless  spirit, 
in  that  they,  a  sect  and  conspiracy  against  the  commandment  of 
God,  have  undertaken  and  devised  means  to  bring  us  over  to 
them,  in  their  contempt  of  all  temporal  authority  and  planting  of 
disobedience,  and  destniction  of  love  toward  our  fellow-men ;  for 
they  think  themselves  better  than  other  Christians  and  without 
sin,  as  all  their  words  and  works,  and  even  their  behavior  plainly 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI.  199 

show."     Subjoined  was  an  order  forbidding  any  furtlier  cases 
of  re-baptisui  on  puii)  ot  a  fine,  or  threats  of  severer  punishment, 
if  that  did  not  prove  sulheieut.     Manz,  Grebel,  Bhmrock  and  the 
other  leaders  of  the  sect  wore  brou^lit  before  the  Council  and  earn- 
estly exhorted  to  coufeiss  their  errors,  but  in  vain.     They  were 
thrown  into  the  Tower.     Wliilst  there,  means  were  found  to  com- 
pose an  address,  which  was  soon  widely  spread  and  roused  up  the 
most  stubborn  of  their  followers  to  new  resistance.     Hence,  when 
the  landvogt  Berger  made  known  the  edict  of  the  government  iu 
Grueningen,  many  of  the  inhabitants  publicly  declared  they  would 
not  submit  to  it.     He  then  summoned  more  than  a  hundred  of 
the  most  zealous  men  and  women  to  the  castle.     Here  the  twelve 
deputies,  who  were  at  the  conference  in  Zurich  assured  them 
with  one  accord,  that  Zwingli  had  conquered,  begged  them  to  re- 
nounce their  errors,  reasoned  with  them,  along  with  the  landvogt^ 
the  whole  day,  and  when  at  last  each  was  asked  for  his  decision, 
thirteen  yielded  3  all  the  others  persevered  in  their  opposition. 
Meanwhile,  the  prisoners  in  Zurich  led  the  government  to 
hope,  that  if  their  liberty  were  restored,  they  would  behave  peace- 
fully.   It  was  granted  3  but  immediately  they  scattered  themselves 
through  the  canton,  and  the  flame  broke  out  anew.     This  was 
also  increased  by  Hubmeyer,  who  after  the  taking  of  Waldshut 
by  the  Austrians  in  December,  1525,  came  to  Zurich  as  a 
fugitive,  and,  having  likwise  held  a  conference  with  Zwingli, 
Leo  Judae  and  Myconius,  in  presence  of  the  Councils,  declared 
himself  overcome  and  ready  for  a  recantation  from  the  pulpit 
of  the  Frauminster  Church.     Instead  of  which,  to  the  great 
surprise  of  the  congregation,  he  began   again  to  advocate  re- 
baptism.     Zwingli,  who   occupied  the   second  pulpit,  on  the 
opposite  side,  interrupted  him  at  once  and  brought  him  to 
silence.*     He  excused  himself  afterwards  by  saying,  that  he 

*  Bullinger  has  a  deecription  of  the  occurrence  in  his  *'  Origin  of 

the  jlnabaptiste." 


200  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

knew  not  wliat  he  did,  the  devil  must  have  been  in  him,  and 
then  once  more  recanted  in  the  Frauminster  and  the  church  at 
Gos^au,  in  the  department  of  Grueniugen. 

Bu  now  the  lovers  of  order  and  quiet  were  everywhere  fully 
aroused.  The  government  was  universally  censured  for  its 
forbearance,  and  most  of  all  in  the  department  of  Grueningen 
itself.  The  landvogt  was  importuned  for  severer  measures. 
^' It  is  truly  a  great  thing" — he  wrote  to  the  Council — "that 
you,  gracious  Lords,  have  for  the  third  time  caused  a  conference 
to  be  held  with  these  people,  who  speak  openly  of  all  the  con- 
ferences and  your  desire  to  do  justice,  in  the  most  iDsolent 
fashion,  in  spite  of  your  edict,  and  are  not  willing  to  acknowledge 
they  have  done  wrong.  Hence  the  magistracy  have  written 
and  prayed  the  Council  and  advised,  that  they  come  together 
again  on  Tuesday,  to  take  the  business  boldly  in  hand,  for  it 
is  publicly  declared:  'I  hear  indeed,  if  My  Lords  only  re- 
ceive five  pounds,  it  matters  little  what  the  Baptists  talk  or  say 
concerning  all  the  conferences  and  edicts;  they  do  no  wrong.^ 
In  this  way  great  injustice  will  be  done  you.  Therefore  do  not 
take  this  amiss  from  me ;  for  the  magistracy  with  your  assist- 
ance would  have  passed  a  far  different  judgment  on  the  Baptists, 
and  plans  would  have  been  formed,  which  would  have  produced 
peace,  quiet  and  obedience.  The  fines  would  have  been  laid  on 
the  great  disturbers,  strife-makers,  hedge-preachers  and  baptisers, 
and  not  on  poor,  simple,  miserable  men,  not  on  women  and 
children,  of  whom  many  have  been  deluded;  yet  these  are  fined 
as  heavily  as  the  chief  actors  in  the  play.  Henceforth  the 
business  must  be  taken  in  hand  boldly;  you  will  not  find  me 
wanting.'^ 

In  fact  the  government  was  now  fully  alive  to  the  emergency. 
As  soon  as  any  one  was  convicted  of  having  repeated  baptism, 
he  was  seized  and  thrown  into  prison.  The  prisons  became 
crowded;  Manz,  Grcbel,  Blaurock  and  fifteen  others  were  con- 


LIFE   ur    ZV/INGLL  201 

fined  in  the  so-called  New  Tower.*  Their  sentence  was  severe : 
''Nothing  shall  be  given  them  but  bread  and  water,  and  they 
shall  lie  on  straw  and  thus  be  left  to  die  in  the  Tower.  Let  it 
then  be  the  business  of  every  one  to  forsake  his  projects  and 
errors  and  be  obedient." 

The  extravagances  of  the  Anabaptists  of  St.  Gall,  which  were 
then  carried  to  the  maddest  extreme,  might  really  have  con- 
tributed to  the  severity  of  this  sentence.  G rebel,  during  an 
earlier  sojourn  there,  had  sown  the  seed,  of  which  these  were 
the  ripened  fruits.  They  burnt  the  Bible,  because  it  said: 
<' The  letter  kills."  They  sported  with  puppets;  led  about  dancing 
apes  tied  to  a  string;  wept  childishly,  and  were  comforted  with 
apples,  and  caist  ofi'  all  their  clothes,  because  they  must  become 
like  little  children,  of  whom  alone  was  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
Yea,  in  the  end,  one  of  them,  Leonard  Schucker,  desired  the 
death  of  his  brother,  because  God  had  commanded  it.  lie 
drew  his  sword  and  struck  off  his  head  in  the  presence  of  his 
father  and  all  his  sisters. 

Thus,  at  last,  the  fruits  showed,  in  a  more  lively  manner  than 
all  the  learned  conferences,  what  was  to  be  thought  of  the 
dogmas  of  this  sect ;  and  yet  the  prisoners  in  Zurich  still  had 
secret  friends.  An  opportunity  was  given  them  to  escape  by 
night,  which  they  used,  and  once  more  spread  through  the 
canton,  pretending  that  the  Angel  of  the  Lord  had  delivered 
them  from  prison,  as  he  formerly  had  Paul  and  Silas.  But 
now  the  pious  jugglery  came  to  a  close.  A  law  was  passed,  that 
whoever,  belonging  to  the  canton,  would  hereafter  rebaptise  an 
adult,  he  should  be  drowned  without  mercy.  Nevertheless  it 
was  done  by  Blaurock  and  Manz,  as  well  as  by  Filk  and  ilaimann, 
two  natives  of  the  department  of  Graeningen  They  were  all 
apprehended.     Blaurock,  because  a  foreigner,  was  whipped  with 

*  Called  in  latter  times  among  the  people,  The  Heretic's  Tower. 


202  LIFE  OF  ZWINQLI. 

rods  and  banished  from  tlie  canton  ;  the  other  three  were  drown- 
ed in  the  Limath  on  the  5th  of  January,  1525.  They  persevered 
to  the  last  in  their  stubbornness,  or  constancy,  to  maintain  which 
Manz  was  even  encouraged  by  his  aged  mother.  Their  be- 
havior left  no  impression  on  the  people,  who  were  sick  of  these 
foul  doings. 

The  great  length  of  the  sentence  delivered  shows  how 
anxious  the  government  was  to  be  justified  in  its  acts,  and  in 
deed  the  public  weal  seemed,  after  what  had  gone  before,  to  de- 
mand such  an  issue.  Of  Grebel's  end  no  report  has  reached  us. 
But  to  later  times  has  been  left  the  problem  of  the  thorough 
instruction  of  the  people,  toleration  in  matters  of  faith,  contempt 
where  morals,  and  punishment,  sore  punishment,  where  the 
sanctity  of  the  law  has  been  invaded. 


<  •%•  »■ 


CHAPTER    FIFTH. 


DEFENCE  OF   THE    OLD    ORDER.       RISE  OF  THF   NEW. 


i/ 


r^\  0  hold  firmly  to  tlie  existing  order 
'"-'\  of  things  is  not  always  proof  of 
^    evil  design,  obstinacy  or   narrow- 


^  sert;  it  may  spring  from  strength 
^  of  character,  the  experience  of 
SaJfe^fi  wisdom,  and,  if  the  existing  order 
be  good,  even  from  a  conviction  of  duty.  Was  this 
true  of  Catholicism  ?  Let  us  apply  the  test.  In 
the  heart  of  man  there  lies  a  world  full  of  rest  and 
peace,  full  of  blessed  love,  full  of  confidence  in 
etei  nal  duration  and  a  God  of  power  to  uphold  and 
4  protect ;  and  this  gives  us  the  victory  over  all  the 
I  darkness  and  plagues  of  earth.  It  speaks  in  living 
K  tones  in  the  innocent  child.  To  children,  said 
Christ,  belongs  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  With  growing  years, 
with  the  birth  of  self-consciousness  guilt  comes  to  life,  earlier  in 
this  one,  later  in  that  one,  but  once  to  all.  It  is  the  inheritance 
of  earth.  The  nursery,  the  school,  personal  experience,  the 
history  of  the  world  teaches  it. 

In  one  alone  there  was  no  guilt  to  be  found.     How  came  He  ? 
How  did  he  walk?     What  need   anxiously  to  inquire,  when 
actions  speak?     He  did  not  teach  from  the  pulpit;   he  wrote 
2Uv) 


204  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

nothing;  He  uttered  isolated  sentences^  a  few  parables;  He 
comforted;  He  healed;  He  labored  only  three  years,  and  three 
years  sufficed  to  shake  the  world  and  to  bring  peace  again  to  the 
world.  Who  of  the  gray  sages  of  Greece  and  Home  did  so 
much?  Well  could  He  say,  in  his  crown  of  thorns,  when  the 
judge  asked  him:  ''Art  thou  the  King  of  the  JewsT" — Thou 
sayest !  And  can  He,  who  lives  in  the  Gospel,  since  we  have 
it  everywhere,  need  a  vicar  on  earth — a  vicar  on  a  worldly 
throne,  in  a  gorgeous  palace?  Has  no  one  ever  blushed  at 
the  thought?  Catholicism  is  still  here,  still  stands  erect.  It 
must  have  a  better  foundation  than  a  mere  untenable  assump- 
tion.*    But  where  can  this  be  found? 

It  lies  in  the  power  of  the  senses  and  in  faith  in  this  power. 
It  is  justified  of  this  faith,  justified  again  by  all  experience.  A 
sound  body,  with  the  senses  in  full  vigor,  bears  up  and  sustains 
the  spirit  also.  Indeed,  the  world  of  sense,  like  that  of  the 
spirit,  has  a  higher  position.  Its  centre,  its  life-organ,  is  the 
heart,  and  this  same  heart  is  the  field  for  all  the  conquests  of 
earth.  It  was  left  for  Christianity  to  reveal  this  secret,  f  In 
right  relations,  and  if  the  spiritual  is  the  leading  element,  the 
creations  of  art,  belonging  to  the  world  of  sense,  are  aids  to 
Christianity.  They  elevate  the  spirit  and  complete  the  conse- 
cration of  divine  worship.  Whenever  this  right  relation  was 
observed,  the  Catholic  church  grew  and  prospered.     But  two 

*  No  one  will  think  ill  of  a  Protestant  for  believing  that  the  Catholic 
church  could  exist  in  greater  spiritual  unity,  worth  and  security  under 
national  bishops,  primates  and  patriarchs,  iviihout  a  Pope. 

•j-  For  scientific  readers:  But  how  near  an  approach  did  not  the  Greeks 
and  Romans  already  make  to  it  ?  The  old  proverb  :  Mens  sana  in  corpore 
aano,  shows  a  recognition  of  the  equal  position  of  the  world  of  sense 
and  the  world  of  spirit,  as  well  as  their  reciprocal  necessity.  This 
saying  is  likewise  the  key  to  all  philosophy ;  the  clue  to  reconciliation 
between  spirit  and  matter,  consciousness  and  guilt,  freedom  and  ne- 
cessity, self-determination  and  determination  from  without. 


Lir£    OF    ZWINGLI.  205 

deviations  from  it,  wliich  the  Papacy  needed  and  used  for  the 
strengthening  of  its  dominion,  weakened  and  finally  in  the 
sixteenth  century  brought  it  nigh  to  destruction  :  monkery  and 
the  celibacy  of  the  clergy.  Whatever  there  was  of  good  in  the 
monasteries,  derived  its  origin  from  the  most  ancient  times, 
when,  for  example,  into  our  own  fatherland  Christian  men,  of 
scientific  culture,  Gallus,  Collombau  and  Siegfried,  wandering 
hither  from  distant  Ireland  and  Scotland,  brought  science  and 
agriculture  into  regions  that  lay  waste,  at  a  time  when  the 
rule  of  Benedict,  although  one  of  the  best,  had  not  yet  been 
introduced  into  the  oldest  monastic  foundations,  St.  Gall  and 
Disentis.  But  as  soon  as  this  was  inoculated  upon  the  life-giving 
stem,  it  gradually  degenerated.*  Just  as  little  was  celibacy 
practised  by  the  clergy  of  the  Catholic  church  before  the  age 
of  Gregory  VI.  (Pope  from  1073 — 1085).  _  The  priests  lived 
like  other  men,  members  of  families,  and  did  not  stand  over 
the  people,  but  among  them  and  with  them.  But  monasticism 
and  celibacy  rest  upon  the  principle,  that  the  senses  are  to  be 
feared,  which,  like  all  fear,  except  the  fear  of  God,  is  inwardly 
untrue.  This  principle  is  also  unchristian.  Christianity  does 
not  teach  us  to  fear  our  senses,  but  to  watch  over  them,  use 
them  and  honor  them;  for  ''the  body  is  the  temple  of  the  Holy 
Ghost."  Christianity  admits  no  death,  not  even  that  of  the 
body — no  impersonality.  Only  a  rude,  broken  covering  of  earth 
remains  behind.  "Destroy  this  temple,"  said  Christ,  ''and  in 
three  days  I  will  build  it  up  again."  Hence  let  us  take  care 
not  to  lay  unnatural  restraint  upon  our  bodies,  lest  at  the  same 
time  we  destroy  the  spirit. 

*  The  so-called  "■  Scottish  Cloisters,"  to  which  old  St.  Gall  especially 
belonged,  were  zealous  in  the  culture  of  science.  Benedict  himself 
held  it  in  low  esteem.  The  peculiar  monasticism,  which  took  its  rise 
from  the  fanatics  of  the  Thebaid,  was,  moreover,  only  a  reaction  against 
the  preponderance  of  the  sensuous  element  in  Hellenism. 

18 


206  LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

But  the  Papacy,  which  strove  to  produce  in  the  pastor  a 
complete  mortification  and  in  the  flock  an  undue  excitement  of 
the  senses,  engendered  in  the  former  severity  and  pride,  in  the 
latter  laxity  or  stubbornness,  and  in  this  way  created  an  unnatural 
separation  between  the  priests  and  the  people,  which  can  not 
exist  along  with  brotherly  communion,  as  taught  by  the  Gospel — 
and  thus,  because  inwardly  untrue  and  at  war  with  nature,  it  has- 
tened toward  destruction  and  was  already  on  the  verge  of  it  in 
the  sixteenth  century.*  Why  then  did  it  only  partially  suc- 
cumb ?  Why  did  it  afterwards  again  rise  to  greater  power  ? 
Every  one-sided  movement  is  struggled  against  in  the  most 
active  and  even  passionate  manner  by  that  which  it  opposes. 
Its  only  argument  lay,  therefore,  in  the  faults  of  its  assailants, 
of  which  it  cunningly  knew  how  to  take  advantage.  We  will 
now  see  how  these  faults  began  gradually  to  develope.  The 
facts  will  speak  for  themselves. 

On  the  watch,  to  spy  out  every  weak  point,  the  defenders  of 
the  old  order  followed  the  firm  course  of  the  courageous  Re- 
former.    Nothing  could  be  discovered  before  the  year  1523. 

*  From  Pope  Gregory  VII.,  we  may  date  especially  the  unnatural 
schism  between  church  and  state,  ■which  are  not  two  separate  elements, 
but  spring  from  the  same  root  and  are  filled  with  the  same  living  poAver. 
From  this  time  forward,  the  Hohenstaufeus  were  obliged  to  fight  against 
the  church,  and  Adrian  and  Innocence  made  war  upon  the  state.  Af- 
terwards they  strove  with  equal  ill-success  to  reconcile  the  parts, 
which  stood  over  against  each  other  in  proud  independence.  But  is  a 
healthy  existence  conceivable  without  religion,  or  an  active  religion 
without  life  ?  The  state  would  become  a  philosophical  abstraction ; 
the  church  a  deceptive  mist-image.  The  universal  church  (without 
form)  stands  over  the  state ;  the  established  church  (with  form)  in  the 
state.  The  universal  church  is  only  visible  in  its  fruits ;  the  es- 
tablished church  in  its  external  arrangement,  which  it  must  receive 
from  the  state,  or  subject  to  its  approval.  The  universal  church  is  un- 
changeable, eternal ;    the  established  church  variable,  accidental. 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  207 

But  now  came  the  war  on  images,  then  the  bui'niug  of  Ittingen, 
then  the  insurrection  of  the  peasantry,  then  the  passing  of 
armed  Zurichers  to  and  from  Waldshut,  endangering  the  peace 
with  Austria;  then  the  Anabaptists  rose  from  the  very  bosom 
of  the  new  church,  and  laatly,  Zwingli  was  attacked  in  the 
Great  Council  by  the  secretary  Am  Gruet,  touching  the  matter 
of  tithes,  and  again,  a  second  time,  in  regard  to  the  Lord's 
Supper — a  prelude  to  his  subsequent  controversy  with  Luther. 
"Here,"  cried  they,  "you  have  the  fruits."  We  have  seen 
the  best  answer  to  this  reproach  in  the  triumphant  victory  of 
Zwingli  over  all  these  difficulties.  Another  path  must  be  chosen. 
They  began  to  learn  from  their  antagonist. 

"We  will  take  the  reformation  into  our  hands,"  said  the 
most  sensible.  At  a  diet  in  Luzern,  to  which  Zurich  and 
Schaflfhausen  were  not  invited,  a  proclamation  was  drawn  up 
and  ratified  by  nine  cantons,  of  which  the  following  are  the 
substantial  contents :  "  Since,  to  our  sorrow,  it  has  come  to  pass, 
by  the  preaching,  writing  and  teaching  of  Luther  and  Zwingli, 
that  our  ancient  Christian  faith  is  put  to  scorn,  the  ordinances 
of  the  Church  despised  and  nothing  any  longer  left ;  therefore, 
in  order  that  men  may  not  live  more  inclined  to  evil  than  to 
good,  wholly  abandoned,  without  fear  and  punishment  for  self- 
will;  in  order  that  no  one  may  make  a  creed  for  his  own  head 
and  understanding,  and  because  the  Chief  Shepherd  of  the 
Church  is  silent  amid  our  cares  and  perplexities,  and  sleeps,  we 
Confederates  have  thought  it  necessary  to  take  care  of  ourselves, 
and,  until  the  time  arrives  when  a  Council  will  allay  the  discord, 
set  forth  the  following  articles :  By  no  one,  whether  clergyman  or 
layman,  shall  the  XII.  articles  of  the  Christian  creed  be  assailed; 
and  just  as  little  shall  the  Seven  Sacraments,  as  the  Church  has 
ordained  them  and  heretofore  held  them.  No  layman  shall  go 
to  the  Sacrament  without  confession  and  absolution;  and  no  one 
shall  receive  it  under  two  forms.     No  chancre  shall  be  made  in 


208  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

tlie  ceremonieSj  wliichj  derived  from  the  Word  of  God,  have 
come  down  to  us  from  the  Holy  Fathers  and  our  worthy  an- 
cestors. Because  the  rules  of  fasting,  based  on  reasonable  and 
Christian  arguments,  have  reached  us  through  the  Holy  Fathers, 
we  will  not  suffer  the  scandal  arising  from  their  transgression  to 
exist  amongst  us.  They  shall  be  observed  according  to  the 
order  and  pleasure  of  each  Canton.  We  will  suffer  no  reviling 
of  the  Most  Holy  Virgin.  We  believe,  that  She,  and  the 
other  saints,  by  their  intercession  with  God,  can  protect  us  and 
obtain  for  us  grace.  He  who  speaks  to  the  contrary  shall  be 
severely  punished  according  to  the  sentence  of  his  lords.  No 
one  shall  undertake  to  abuse,  carry  off,  or  break  to  pieces  images, 
paintings  and  crucifixes.  Whatever  of  church-revenues  they 
possess,  shall  be  guaranteed  to  the  houses  of  God.  And  because 
much  discord  and  perversity  have  been  stirred  up  by  the 
preachers,  so  that  this  may  be  done  away  and  the  Gospel  in  its 
true  meaning  preached  to  us  and  the  common  people,  as  the 
ancient  teachers  have  left  it  behind  recorded  in  many  valuable 
books,  it  is  our  serious  intention,  that  no  one  shall  preach  the 
Word  of  God,  wherever  we  have  power  to  rule,  unless  he  has 
been  first  examined  by  his  spiritual  ordinar}^,  duly  admitted  and 
duly  consecrated,  and  has  a  credible  certificate  of  this,  as  every 
priest  should.  No  layman  shall  preach;  no  hedge-preacher 
shall  any  where  be  tolerated,  but  driven  off  and  punished  with 
severity.  Our  preachers  shall  also  preach,  teach  and  instmct 
without  any  covetousness  and  seek  naught  therein,  but  the 
salvation  of  souls  and  their  improvement.  Item,  since  wrong 
views  and  contradictions  have  been  groundlessly  revived  by  the 
Zwinglian  or  Lutheran  sect,  touching  purgatory  and  prayers  for 
the  dead,  in  which  all  Christian  souls,  our  ancestors  and  we 
ourselves  have  believed,  we  warn  all  true  men  not  so  wantonly 
to  forsake  our  true  faith  for  the  false  sayings  of  Luther.  We 
wish  also  that  no  one  preach,  write  or  speak  such  things  in  our 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  209 

territory.  He  who  does  so,  shall  be  punished  according  to 
the  judgment  of  his  lords.  The  houses  of  God,  cloisters, 
foundations  and  churches,  shall  be  permitted  to  retain  their 
rights  and  privileges ;  no  violence  shall  be  used  against  them,  nor 
their  dues  kept  back,  or  taken  from  them  vrithout  law. 

"Item,  although  it  may  be  true  that  the  Canon  Law,  many 
ordinances  and  statutes  have  been  framed  by  the  Holy  Fathers, 
teachers,  Pope  and  Councils  with  a  good  design,  yet  since  this 
Canon  Law  and  these  statutes  have  been  increased  by  degrees 
and  made  more  severe;  since  many  of  them  are  exorbitant  and 
have  been  misused  against  us  laity,  so  as  to  cause  us  great  in- 
jury and  ruin;  and  since  in  this  sad  time,  when  the  wolf  has 
broken  into  the  sheep-fold  of  Christ,  the  Chief  Watchman  and 
Shepherd  slumbers,  we  deem  it  our  duty,  as  civil  authorities, 
to  come  to  the  rescue  in  some  measure;  not  that  we  at  all  wish 
thereby  to  cast  off  our  allegiance,  or  place  ourselves  in  opposition 
to  the  Roman  and  universal  Christian  Church,  but  only  for  the 
suppression  and  prevention  of  further  disasters,  rebellion  and 
the  division  of  our  Confederacy.  But  if  by  a  general  Christian 
Council  or  competent  assembly,  to  which  deputies  are  invited 
and  are  present  from  our  Confederacy,  this  schism  is  removed 
and  unity  again  restored  to  the  Church,  we  will  not  be  sundered 
therefrom,  but  act  like  our  forefathers,  as  a  good,  pious,  obedient 
Christian  people. 

"  And  therefore,  we  ordain  first,  that  our  people's  priests  and 
pastors  shall  not  addict  themselves  to  avarice,  as  has  too  often 
been  the  case  heretofore,  namely :  that  they  and  their  curates 
shall  not  keep  back  the  Holy  Sacrament  from  us  and  ours  for  the 
sake  of  money.  Still,  it  is  our  purpose  that,  whatever  from 
ancient  times  has  been  assigned  in  each  canon  to  the  pastor  or  sa- 
cristan, it  shall  continue  to  him  and  yield  him  a  fair  support  5 
but  if  any  one  in  the  collection  thereof  is  dealt  with  severely 
and  dangerously,  it  shall  concern  the  civil  authority,  so  that  the 

18* 


210  LIFE   OF   ZWINGU. 

common  man  be  not  overmatclied.  Item,  the  priests  of  eveiy 
rank  shall  conduct  themselves  in  a  decent  and  pious  manner, 
and  set  a  good  example  to  us  laity,  for  hereafter  that  will  not 
be  endured  from  them,  which  has  been  hitherto.  Every  pastor 
shall  also  remain  with  his  parishoners  during  the  death-stmggle, 
and  minister  to  them  and  comfort  them  faithfully,  according  to 
the  Christian  rule,  at  the  risk  of  losing  his  benefice.  Since, 
moreover,  there  has  been  great  abuse  in  this,  that  a  priest  has 
employed  two  or  more  curates  to  perform  the  duties  of  his  parish 
and  then  taken  his  leave,  we  will  suffer  it  no  longer,  and  hence- 
forth, no  priest  shall  possess  more  than  one  parish  and  cure  of 
souls,  and  shall  live  there  himself.  Also,  no  one  shall  make  a 
secret  agreement  with  another,  at  the  peril  of  losing  his  benefice. 
Yet,  we  make  this  exception ;  a  pastor  may  receive  several 
livings  in  the  foundations  and  monasteries,  where  hitherto  it 
has  been  the  custom  and  privilege  not  to  reside  therein  per- 
sonally, so  that  the  excellent  foundations  and  monasteries  be 
not  curtailed  in  their  privileges.  Item,  where  a  young  man  has 
a  benefice,  or,  being  still  under  age,  is  too  young  to  become  a 
priest,  he  may  indeed  be  permitted  to  enjoy  the  benefice,  on 
condition  of  procuring  the  services  of  a  fit  and  worthy  priest  in 
his  stead.  But,  if  he  reaches  the  proper  age,  and  does  not  then 
oecome  a  priest,  or  is  not  capable  and  virtuous  enough  for  the 
office,  he  shall  be  deprived  of  the  benefice, 

"Item,  because  several  priests  have  already  ventured  to  take 
wives,  it  is  our  opinion,  that  no  benefices  should  be  bestowed  on 
them,  and  they  ought  to  be  forbidden  the  exercise  of  their 
priestly  office;  and  those  persons  belonging  to  the  monastic 
orders,  who  have  left  their  cloisters  and  their  order,  or  have 
married,  ought  to  be  deprived  of  their  benefices  and  expelled 
from  their  monasteries ;  still,  be  it  reserved  to  each  canton  and 
each  authority  to  deal  further  with  them,  or  show  mercy.  Item, 
in  regard  to  spiritual  jurisdiction  and  excommunication  we  have 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  211 

considered  and  ordered  at  this  time,  since  matters  have  gone  so 
sadly  and  no  one  has  given  them  any  attention,  that  no  clergy- 
man shall  cite,  summon,  or  call  up  a  layman,  and  no  layman  a 
clergyman,  or  one  of  his  own  estate,  before  a  spiritual  tribunal, 
except  alone  in  the  matter  of  marriage,  and  in  what  concerns 
error  and  dispute  about  the  holy  sacraments,  or  the  monasteries 
and  churches,  or  the  welfare  of  the  soul,  or  infidelity.  But  in 
so  doing,  it  is  our  opinion,  if  it  chance  in  regard  to  mamage- 
afiairs  and  other  business,  that  we  laymen  might  be  summoned 
and  tried  before  a  spiritual  court;  still,  the  whole  business 
shall  not  come  first  either  before  the  bishops,  or  their  officials,  or 
commissaries,  or  before  a  spiritual  judge,  but  before  each  civil 
authority,  and  then  after  each  civil  authority  has  investigated 
the  matter,  it  shall  then  proceed  to  give  judgment  and  expla- 
nations thereon,  or  else  hand  over  the  business,  if  they  think  it 
necessary,  to  the  spiritual  judge.  All  judicial  proceedings  be- 
fore the  spiritual  judge,  and  especially  at  Constance,  shall  be 
transacted  in  German  and  written  out  in  German,  as  the  cus- 
tom is  in  several  bishoprics,  so  that  we  laity  also  may  hear  and 
understand  what  is  done.  Item,  since  between  the  Sunday, 
when  the  Alleluia  is  omitted,*  and  Shrove  Tuesday,  during 
which  season  every  other  person  indulges  in  worldly  pleasures, 
wedding  festivals  are  forbidden  to  the  common  man,  and  be- 
cause this  prohibition  is  remitted  for  money,  it  is  our  order  and 
opinion,  that  it  be  granted  without  pay.  Since  we  and  ours 
have  been  burdened  with  manifold  Romish  indulgences,  it  is 
our  opinion,  that  from  this  time  forth  no  indulgences  should  be 
granted  for  the  sake  of  money,  in  any  place  or  corner  of  our 
cantons.     Furthermore,  the  Pope  and  bishops  hold  and  reserve 

*  The  seventh  Sunday  after  the  day  of  the  Holy  Three  Kings,  in 
old  almanacs,  is  styled,  "Alleluia  Niederlag"  from  an  ordinance  of 
Alexander  II.,  that  on  this  day,  neither  the  Hallelujah,  nor  any  other 
song  of  praise  durst  be  sung. 


212  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

for  themselves  alone  certain  sins  and  transgressions,  and  hence 
it  happens,  they  will  not  give  the  people  absolution  without  the 
payment  of  a  large  sum,  and  no  dispensation  is  granted  to  any 
one,  even  in  a  case  of  decent  and  honorable  emergency,  unless 
it  be  outweighed  with  gold — therefore,  it  is  our  opinion,  that 
what  may  be  brought  to  pass  by  popes  and  bishops  for  g-ain, 
shall  be  granted  to  the  people  and  the  poor  common  man,  by 
every  pastor  without  charge,  notwithstanding  the  power  of  the 
Pope  and  the  bishops,  until  it  be  further  determined.  Every 
canton  also  shall  and  may  consult  with  its  pastors  and  clergy, 
and  devise  a  plan,  as  to  how  and  in  what  form  the  gross  abuses 
of  the  confessional  may  be  punished.  In  regard  to  the  courtesans, 
who  invade  our  livings,  it  is  our  plain  order  and  opinion,  that 
where  such  Romish  knaves  come,  they  shall  be  cast  into  prison 
and  punished  in  such  a  manner,  as  that  henceforth  we  shall  be 
rid  of  them.  Because  the  priesthood,  in  some  part  at  least, 
have  been  guilty  of  wicked  deeds,  altogether  improper  and  in- 
decent, which,  if  they  had  been  committed  by  the  laity,  would 
have  been  punished  with  death  j  and  these  evil-doers,  when 
handed  over  to  the  bishops  and  the  superiors  of  their  orders, 
have  been  lightly  dealt  with  and  set  free,  and  because  crime 
and  follies  increase  among  them,  and  give  rise  to  every  kind  of 
discord  and  disturbance — in  order  that  this  evil  may  be  cured, 
whoever  perpetrates  such  a  crime  as  to  forfeit  his  life,  each 
authority,  under  which  such  a  clergyman  has  been  seized,  shall 
execute  him  for  that  crime,  just  like  a  layman,  notwithstanding 
his  consecration.'* 

"Item,  because  the  common  people  have  been  greatly  dis- 
turbed in  their  faith  by  the  printers,  and  the  books  published 
by  Luther  or  Zwingli  and  their  followers,  it  is  our  will,  that  no 
one  shall  print  or  keep  such  books  for  sale  in  our  cities,  cantons 
and  territories;  and,  when  they  are  seized  on  a  colporteur,  he 
shall  be  heavily  punished ;  and  whoever  has  such  books  for  sale 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  213 

and  takes  them  to  a  merchant,  tlie  mercliant  shall  tear  tliem  to 
pieces,  or  throw  them  into  the  mire,  and  not  be  accountable 
therefor.     But  such  works  as  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  the 
Holy  Gospels,  the  Bible  and  other  Christian  books  of  the  twelve 
Apostles  and  Saints,  their  lives  and  doctrines,  may  be  bought 
and  sold.     Item,  whereas  it  is  very  plain  that  the  poor  common 
man  who  has  been  everywhere  subjected  to  restrictions  of  a 
hard  and  severe  character,  by  clerical  prelates  and  convents,  as 
well  as  by  noble  and  plebeian  judges,  in  their  restraints  on  mar- 
riage, their  lowering  of  prices,  their  rents  and   other  feudal 
claims  and  privileges,  and  especially  among  our  bailiwicks  and 
dependencies,  which  now  highly  grieves  and  surprises  us  Con- 
federates, and  because,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  federal  com- 
pact no  one  canton  can  break  off  from  the  others  in  its  rights, 
claims  and  privileges,  and  as  in  our  bailiwicks  collectively  abuses 
and  grievances  have  been  very  much  practised  against  the  com- 
mon people,  by  the  monasteries,  nobles  and  judges,  therefore,  be 
it  hereby  resolved,  that  we  take  measures  to  alleviate  and  pass 
judgment  therein,  so  that  the  poor  common  man  may  not  be 
burdened  by  the  lowering  of  prices,  and  heavy  ground-rents, 
and  so  severely  bound,  but  that  favor  and  a  remedy  may  be 
discovered.     Item,  in  regard  to  the  restraints  on  marriage,  that 
is,  when  a  man  takes  a  wife,  and  a  woman  a  husband,  beyond 
the  jurisdiction  of  his  feudal  lord,  and   the  lord  undertakes  to 
punish  him  therefor,  it  is  our  will  and  ordinance,  that  no  one 
be  so  punished,  seeing  that  marriage  is  a  sacrament,  and  eveiy 
one  should  be  free  in  such  a  case.     But  whoever  desires  a  part- 
ner, and  is  able  to  pay  a  ransom,  and  procure  his  or  her  liberty, 
it  shall  not  be  refused,  but  granted  for  a  reasonable  sum  of 
money.     Should  the  lord  be  too  severe,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  magistrate,  in  every  place  and  corner,  where  it  occurs,  to 
mediate  therein  and  settle  it  according  to  equitable  principles. 
Item,  it  shall  be  the  boundeu  duty  of  every  convent  to  hand  in 


214  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

to  the  authorities  a  faithful  account  of  its  revenue,  outlay,  pos- 
sessions and  all  its  business.  Item,  although  the  clergy  have 
hitherto  been  free  and  exempt  from  all  burdens  and  incum- 
brances, and  have  so  overawed  the  secular  authorities  with  the 
ban  of  excommunication,  that  they  never  dared  to  lay  upon  them 
taxes,  fines,  school-money,  customs,  tolls,  licenses,  fees  and 
other  burdens,  yet  as  there  is  no  foundation  for  this  custom  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  it  having  been  introduced  among  simple 
Christian  people  by  spiritual  laws  of  their  own  invention,  so 
that  they  might  not  be  loaded  with  the  same  burdens;  there- 
fore, it  is  the  will  and  purpose  of  our  Lords  and  rulers,  that  all 
priests,  whether  secular  or  belonging  to  the  monastic  orders, 
shall  share  in  all  these,  so  that  the  common  people  may  con- 
tinue obedient  to  the  civil  authorities,  according  to  the  Christian 
rule;  none  of  them  shall  oppose  this,  and  it  shall  also  be  sent 
everywhere  in  the  city  and  canton.  And,  finally,  we  Confeder- 
ates reserve  the  right  to  add  to,  to  take  from,  and  to  alter  the 
articles  here  drawn  up,  if,  in  the  meantime,  anything  better  be 
discovered,  even  as  our  Confederacy  stands  responsible  toward 
God  and  the  world,  and  may  be  praiseworthy,  useful  and  honor- 
able/^ 

This  long  document,  which  Bullinger  alone  has  preserved 
entire,  we  here  present  with  slight  abbreviation,  because  it  ex- 
hibits, in  a  manner  more  lively  than  any  description  could,  the 
position  in  the  state  then  held  by  the  church,  wherever  the 
Reformation  had  not  yet  taken  deep  root.  Great  defects  were 
acknowledged  by  all  the  governments,  and  the  will  was  at  hand 
to  apply  the  remedy.  But  points  of  faith  must  be  left  un- 
touched. Hence,  these  were  summed  up  in  the  introduction. 
On  the  contrary,  no  special  reverence  is  shown  for  the  Pope 
and  the  higher  position  assumed  by  the  clergy;  indeed,  in  sev- 
erai  essential  particulars,  a  decided  purpose  is  expressed  to  hold 
them  in  check,  and  if  necessary  even  to  resist  them.     There  is 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  215 

room  to  conjecture,  tliat  if  these  articles  had  been  carried  into 
practice,  they  would  have  exerted  a  powerful  influence  against 
the  Pveformation,  so  far,  perhaps,  as  to  have  confined  it  to  Zurich, 
and  even  in  the  end  to  have  suppressed  it  here. 

But  the  impossibility  of  this  soon  appeared.  The  Great 
Councils  of  Bern,  Solothurn  and  especially  Basel  durst  no  longer 
venture  to  enforce  the  general  enactments  against  the  married 
clergy,  for  the  maintenance  of  rules  of  fasting  and  for  the  pres- 
ervation of  purgatory  among  the  doctrines  of  faith,  whilst  on 
the  other  side,  wherever  they  still  had  firm  footing,  the  priest- 
hood opposed  all  the  articles,  which  would  set  limits  to  their 
greediness  and  love  of  power.  Hence  the  general  resolutions 
were  not  carried  out,  and  only  showed  the  more  strongly  the 
inward  weakness  of  the  Papacy. 

But  already,  before  this  time,  the  first  inconsistency,  to  which 
Zwingli  himself  was  obliged  to  submit,  came  to  the  aid  of  his 
opponents.  He  had  declared  that  the  Gospel  was  able  to  en- 
dure any  trial ;  that  to  prove  the  right  and  utter  the  results  of 
his  examination  should  be  free  to  every  one,  and  as  he  claimed 
this  right  in  full  measure  for  himself,  he,  for  his  part,  denied 
it  to  no  other  man.  Yet  the  State  did  this,  and  Zwingli  fell 
in  with  the  measure.  As  early  as  January,  1523,  the  following 
ordinance  was  published:  ''Masters  Ulric  Zwingli  and  Henry 
Utiger  of  the  Canons,  and  Master  Henry  Walder  and  Master 
Binder  of  the  Councils,  are  appointed  to  inspect  everything 
which  shall  be  printed  in  the  city  of  Zurich,  and  the  printer 
shall  be  informed  and  command  given  him,  to  undertake  to 
print  nothing  without  their  knowledge  and  approval.''  Thus, 
the  censorship  of  the  press,  which,  till  now,  had  only  been  ex- 
ercised by  the  bishops  and  the  Pope,  was  introduced  by  the 
State,  by  a  republican  state,  and  at  a  time  when  this  state  wr;s 
subjecting  the  exclusive,  established  faith,  to  every  kind  of  in- 
vestigation.    "U^heuce  this  inconsistency  ?     It  did  not  spring 


216  LIFE    OF    ZVaNGLIi 

from  tlie  Reformer,  but  only  from  the  unavoidable  necessity  of 
his  age,  in  which  the  capability  of  judging  had  not  yet  pene- 
trated the  mass  of  the  people.* 

This  was  immediately  perceived  and  made  use  of  by  the 
Papacy.  Her  skillful  orators  did  not  in  the  least  blame  the 
censorship  of  the  press  in  Zurich,  but  thought  it  very  judicious ; 
but,  "  why  then,"  asked  they,  ''do  you  attack  us  for  restrictions 

*  Concerniiig  the  relation  of  Zwingli  to  his  age,  the  author  published 
an  article  in  the  Swiss  Monthly  Chronicle  for  the  year  1819,  from 
which,  as  the  periodical  was  confined  to  a  narrow  circle,  he  ventures 
to  insert  here  a  short  extract.  "  The  great  man  goes  in  advance  of 
his  age.  His  bold,  firm  step  wins  for  him  a  host  of  trusting  and  pow- 
erful adherents.  Prudence  hesitates ;  fear  trembles  ;  and  the  evil-will 
refuses  to  follow  him.  Self-interest,  justly  in  dread  of  every  blazing 
up  of  the  truth,  mingles  in  the  drama  with  cunning  art ;  a  separation 
ensues  ;  and  he  who  would  bring  peace  to  all  the  world,  has  brought  a 
sword  ;  but  still  completes  his  work,  if  he  suifer  for  it,  or  is  so  happy 
as  to  fall.  By  the  sacrifice  of  himself  the  hero  becomes  a  saint.  Eye- 
witnesses of  his  labors,  noble  enough  to  admire  him,  able  enough  to 
support  him,  but  not  strong  enough  to  take  his  place,  guard  with  loving 
hearts  his  memory  and  his  words  ;  the  solitary  staff  for  a  race,  which 
had  the  desire,  but  not  the  requisite  maturity,  to  take  into  itself  the 
entire  spirit  of  the  illustrious  dead.  More  and  more  was  the  letter 
now  anxiously  guarded,  and  in  it  the  living,  creative  spirit  was  se- 
curely and  faithfully  handed  down  to  a  more  enlightened  age.  And 
this  age  was  first  able  to  understand  the  great  man  fully,  to  prize  his 
services  and  value  his  doctrine.  It  is  surprising  that  centuries  ago 
any  one  should  think,  as  it  delights  in  thinking  ;  it  honors  the  noble 
of  former  times  as  its  spiritual  kindred ;  but  let  it  beware  of  pride, 
for  if  he  were  to  rise  again  amid  the  means,  the  experience,  the  know- 
ledge of  this  age,  he  would  soon  hasten  in  advance  of  it  also,  as  they 
ever  do,  who  regard  not  that,  which  one  generation  of  men  style  truth, 
but  the  eternal  fundamental  truth  of  all  ages ;  who  have  not  pious 
feeling  alone  —  not  wisdom  alone;  to  whom  alone  it  is  revealed,  by 
whose  earnest  and  constant  endeavor  it  is  attained,  to  be  wise  and 
good  at  the  same  time." 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  217 

and  watchfulness,  wlien  you  yourselves  cannot  do  without  them  ? 
To-day  you  declare  f\iith  shall  be  free,  that  it  can  sustain  any 
trial,  and  to-morrow  suppress  the  writings  of  those  who  will  not 
prove  it  in  your  way.  Truly,  like  us,  you  need  an  authoritative 
creed.  Only  with  us  the  old  Church  gives  the  command,  with 
you  the  new  Zwingli.  This  is  very  far  from  being  a  sufficient 
reason  to  induce  us  to  go  over  to  your  party.'^  What  adequate 
reply  can  be  made  ?  In  fact  the  time  had  not  yet  come,  when 
the  Reformation  could  stand  by  its  own  strength;  the  dis- 
tinguished man  alone  sustained  it.  In  this,  lies  the  reason  why 
Zwingli  was  indispensable  to  Zurich — in  this  the  secret  of  his 
power  in  the  State  as  well  as  the  Church. 

Also  aware  of  this,  the  defenders  of  the  Old  Order  were  more 
and  more  convinced,  that  its  maintenance  or  new  establishment 
in  the  Confederacy,  could  only  become  possible,  if  they  succeeded 
in  putting  Zwingli  to  silence,  and  for  the  attainment  of  this  end 
they  mustered  all  their  powers.  Hence,  an  offer  from  Doctor 
Eck,  of  Ingolstadt,  known  through  his  earlier  famous  disputa- 
tion with  Luther,  and  mentioned  before  in  the  beginning  of  this 
work,  to  come  personally  to  Switzerland  and  do  battle  with  the 
Reformer,  was  very  welcome  to  the  leaders  of  this  party.  As 
soon  as  Zwingli  heard  of  it,  he  wrote  to  this  champion  and  in, 
vited  him  to  Zurich :  here  he  could  attack  him  and  point  out  to 
his  hearers,  who  needed  it  most,  the  errors  of  their  teacher. 
''It  is  time,"  he  concludes,  "for  me  to  leave  off,  if  I  have  been 
a  false  prophet.  But  rather  would  I  find  out  a  way,  if  there 
be  time,  to  prevent  thee  from  deceiving  the  poor  people  with 
thy  imposture.  May  God  have  pity  on  thee,  take  away  thy 
stony  heart  and  give  thee  one  so  warm,  that  one  can  write  to 
thee  with  joy  ! "  The  Council  of  Zurich  also  sent  an  invitation 
to  Eck,  along  with  a  letter  of  safe-conduct,  pledging  him  a  safe 
passage  through  the  canton,  coming  and  going.  Eck  declined 
it  with  the  remark,  that  he  must  appear  wherever  the   diet 


218  .  LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

would  appoint.  The  latter,  after  manifold  negotiations  with 
the  bishops,  after  a  final  weighing  of  the  differeot  views  of  the 
governments  themselves,  resolved,  in  March  of  the  year  152G,  to 
accept  the  ofier  of  Eck,  to  whom  the  general-vicar  Faber  had 
joined  himself,  and  assemble  a  religious  conference  at  Baden, 
in  the  middle  of  October,  To  these  preparatory  consultations 
and  to  the  sessions  of  the  diet  Zurich  had  not  been  invited  for  a 
long  time.  In  vain  had  she  complained  of  it.  But  now  she 
received  a  cold  letter,  almost  hostile  in  its  tone,  from  her  sister- 
confederates,  of  which  the  following  are  the  essential  contents  : 
''  It  cannot  be  concealed  from  you,  that  for  a  good  while  there 
has  been  much  talk  of  a  disputation.  Transactions  of  this  sort 
have  not  at  all  been  displeasing  and  repugnant  to  your  feelings 
heretofore.  Well  I  Now  we  are  to  act  for  a  final  restoration 
of  peace.  Require  Zwingli  and  hi-s  associates  to  appear  here 
along  with  your  deputies,  and  thus  show  yourselves  as  those, 
who  would  willingly  suffer  discord,  ill-will  and  disturbance  to 
be  put  away,  and  themselves  be  taught  what  is  better.'^  It  is 
easy  to  imagine,  that,  on  such  an  invitation,  Zurich  found  the 
matter  worthy  of  more  mature  consideration  before  she  could 
accept. 

The  government  had  undoubtedly  begun  and  proceeded, 
without  heeding  the  frequent  prayers  and  warnings  of  her 
Confederates,  in  a  thorough  work  of  reformation  within  the 
limits  of  her  own  canton;  beyond  these  she  had  neither  ex- 
ercised, nor  sought  to  exercise,  a  direct  ecclesiastical  influence. 
What  she  had  done,  was  in  strict  accordance  with  her  rights;  no 
law  of  the  Confederation  had  been  violated  by  her.  And  yet 
the  confederates  continued  to  assume  more  and  more  the  atti- 
tude of  judges  over  her.  When  the  deputies  from  the  Zurich 
Council  appeared  in  the  midst  of  the  diet,  at  the  close  of  the 
discussion  in  regard  to  the  conference  at  Baden,  they  were  ex- 
eluded,  Cii)led  in  again,  if  they  thought  fit  to  come,  not  asked 


LIFE    OF    ZV\rN(}LT.  219 

for  their  opinion,  and  simply  informed  of  "what  had  been  de- 
termined without  their  assistance,  and  what  they  were  now 
expected  to  carry  into  excution.  In  the  same  form,  a  knowl- 
edge of  these  decrees  was  a  second  time  communicated  to  the 
government.  The  doctrines  of  Zwingli  were  styled  heretical 
beforehand,  and  he  was  charged  with  being  the  author  of  se- 
dition ;  then  it  was  resolved :  "  It  is  not  our  will  that  any 
changes  be  made  in  the  faith,  and,  as  dutiful  members,  we  have 
no  thought  of  sundering  ourselves  from  the  Holy  Church;  but 
in  order  that  Zwingli  may  be  obliged  to  leave  off  his  seditious 
teachings  in  our  Confederacy,  and  the  common  people  in  some 
measure  redeemed  from  error  and  rendered  peaceful,  we  make 
arrangements  for  the  disputation/' 

After  such  a  declaration,  what  was  the  part  demanded  of  the 
free  state  of  Zurich?  That  she  should  appear  in  the  circle  of 
her  confederate  sisters  in  the  attitude  of  a  poor  sinner ;  take 
back  whatever  she  had  established  after  mature  trial ;  seize  the 
Reformer  and  arraign  him  before  an  inquisition,  by  which  he 
had  already  been  prejudged  as  a  heretic.  And  then  what 
anxiety,  what  memories  connected  themselves  with  Baden,  the 
place  of  the  conference?  It  stood  in  close  dependence  on  the 
most  embittered  cantons.  The  majority  of  its  own  citizens  were 
hostile  to  the  Reformation.  Here,  a  short  time  before,  the 
blood  of  the  men  of  Stammheim  and  Burkhard  Ruetiman  had 
been  shed  by  an  unrighteous  sentence,  out  of  mere  religious 
hatred  and  in  violation  of  pledges;  from  thence,  the  same  year, 
jSlcolas  Hettinger,  of  whom  we  have  already  spoken,  had  been 
delivered  up  to  Luzern,  to  fall  by  the  sword,  in  spite  of  all  the 
intercessions  of  the  Zurich  government.  The  principles  of  the 
Romish  Church  in  regard  to  those,  whom  she  esteemed  heretics, 
were  well  known.  It  had  been  openly  declared  by  several,  and 
believed  by  many,  that  they  were  not  bound  to  keep  faith  with 
%uch  persons.     Just  about   this  time,  (December  11,  A.  D. 


220  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

1525),  Pope  Clement  YII.,  to  whom  the  Zurichers  had  sent 
the  Secretary  Am  Gruet,  to  collect  the  arrears  due  for  military 
services,  wrote  thus  :  "  If  you  do  not  forsake  your  new,  ungodly 
errors,  how  can  you  expect  us  to  satisfy  these  claims,  lawful  as 
they  may  be,  without  going  counter  to  righteousness  and  the 
fear  of  God,  since  that  cannot  be  justly  allowed  to  heretics, 
which  they  have  inherited  from  their  forefathers?''  In  Frei- 
burg, Zwingli's  writings  were  burnt,  and  his  effigy  in  Luzern. 
Several  states  had  given  orders  to  seize  him,  wherever  he  could 
be  found.  His  brother-in-law,  Leonard  Tremp,  wrote  to  him 
from  Bern:  ''As  you  value  your  life,  take  care  you  go  not  to 
Baden ;  for  no  safe-conduct  will  be  observed  in  your  case  ;  that 
I  know."  Can  the  government  of  Zurich  be  blamed  for  not 
wantonly  exposing  the  man,  in  whose  existence  the  entire  de- 
velopment of  its  political  and  religious  life  was  closely  bound  up  ? 
And  yet,  when  we  see  how  the  Messiah,  whose  Gospel  the 
Reformer  proclaimed,  delivered  himself  up  to  the  unjust  judges; 
when  we  read  his  declaration:  "Whoso  loveth  his  life  shall 
lose  it;"  when  we  hear  Martin  Luther  say,  as  he  began  his 
journey  to  Worms;  "And,  if  there  were  as  many  devils  there, 
as  tiles  on  the  houses,  I  will  yet  go,"  and  see  him  step  forth 
courageously  before  the  wrathful  monarch  and  the  empire; — 
indeed  we  might  almost  wish  that  Zwingli  had  not  declined  the 
challenge  to  battle,  nor  giveu  his  enemies  occasion  to  triumph, 
and  C17  out  to  all  the  world  that  he  did  not  dare  to  defend  his 
own  cause.  Qicolampadius,  who,  sent  by  his  government, 
had  appeared  there  with  unflinching  courage,  wrote  to  him 
from  Baden :  "  Elsewhere  than  here,  on  the  field  of  battle,  we 
cannot  meet  these  our  opponents  with  befitting  energy.  Mere 
writing  is  not  sufficient.  Thou  wilt  expose  th3'self  to  danger,  as 
is  the  case  with  us  all.  Yet  perhaps  thouknowcst  more  than  I. 
Do  as  thou  thinkest  best  for  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  to  whom  our 
life,  as  much  or  as  little  of  it  as  still  remains,  alone  belongs." 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  22! 

Not  for  one  moment  did  Zwingli  falter  in  the  path,  Tvhich  he 
had  marked  out  for  himself.  Though  his  faith  continued  firm 
and  strong  till  the  hour  of  his  death,  still  there  lay  also  in  his 
character  a  spirit  of  worldly  prudence,  which  rendered  intoler- 
able the  thought  of  becoming  a  sacrifice  to  the  craft  of  his 
opponents,  who,  instead  of  honoring  his  courage,  would  rather 
perhaps  have  laughed  at  him  as  a  credulous  dupe,  in  their  joy 
over  the  success  of  their  unworthy  plan.  The  author  of  this 
work  will  neither  justify,  nor  blame  him  on  this  account.  His 
duty  is,  to  present  a  faithful  picture  of  the  great  man,  leaving 
the  reader  to  form  his  own  judgment.  But  let  us  hear  a  few 
passages  touching  this  point,  from  a  long  letter  of  his  to  the 
government  of  Bern,  which  had  urged  Zurich  to  accept  the 
invitation  to  take  part  in  the  Conference:  ''I  beseech  you,  wise 
and  pious  Lords,  in  the  most  pressing  manner,  to  have  my  an- 
swer to  your  letter,  which  was  sent  to  my  Lords,  but  had  re- 
ference to  myself,  read  aloud  and  weighed  with  earnest  and 
mature  consideration;  for  I  am  not  all  opposed  to,  but  in  favor 
of  a  disputation.  It  is  only  the  place  that  I  cannot  abide,  and 
these  are  my  reasons :  No  place  stands  open  to  me,  since  the 
cantons  of  Luzern,  Uri,  Schwytz,  Unierwalden  and  Zug  have 
the  supremacy;  for  the  aforenamed  cantons  have  called  me  a 
heretic,  summoned  me  to  appear  before  them,  rejected  my 
doctrines,  burnt  my  books  and  reviled  me  without  any  hearing 
whatever.  It  is  a  manifest  pre-judgment.  They  themselves 
confess,  that  the  disputation  was  only  planned,  in  order  to  silence 
Zwingli.  This  is  also  a  pre-judgment.  As  the  aforenamed 
cantons  have  commanded  me  to  be  taken  prisoner,  how  could  I 
trust  their  safe-conduct?  In  the  safe-conduct  itself  there  is 
a  proviso,  that  every  one  must  behave  agreeably  to  that  safe- 
conduct;  a  common  article  where  there  is  no  danger;  but  it 
would  not  be  enough  for  me  at  Baden ;  for  just  as  soon  as  I 
wx)uld say:  '^ The  Pope  is  AnUobrist" — JMst  so  eoon  would  they 

19* 


222  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

cry  out  against  me,  that  I  had  forfeited  my  safe-conduct.  Then, 
the  Five  Cantons,  along  with  Faher  and  Eck,  have  made  arrange- 
ments beforehand,  behind  our  backs,  in  regard  to  the  disputa- 
tion, which  ought  to  be  impartial ;  and  they  have  permitted  the 
most  scandalous  writings  of  Faber  and  Eck  against  me  to  be 
sold  freely,  nay,  to  be  hawked  about  at  the  Diet,  whilst  they  would 
neither  hear  nor  look  at  my  answers.  For  these  and  other 
reasons,  I  would  give  a  friendly  caution  to  my  gracious,  loving 
Lords,  to  believe  no  one,  who  pretends  that  I  wish  to  avoid  the 
disputation.  I  do  not ;  but  only  the  place.  Besides,  there  are 
three  most  excellent  articles  altogether  omitted  in  the  safe-conduct, 
viz  :  that  the  Bible  alone  should  be  the  source  and  ground  of  ar- 
gument; that  no  judge  should  be  placed  over  God's  Word;  and 
finally,  that  the  controversy  should  be  carried  on  freely,  and  with- 
out interruption,  on  all  points  in  dispute.  But,  indeed,  there 
is  no  need  to  speak  of  salx^-conduct  or  articles,  whilst  they  will 
hold  the  disputation  at  Baden.     I  will  not  hadcn  (bathe). '^ 

CKcolampadius  now  headed  the  Reformed  party  at  the  Con- 
ference, in  Zwingli's  stead.  Berchthold  Haller,  preacher  at 
Bern,  joined  him.  They  two,  and  several  others  of  like  mind, 
kept  up  the  battle  for  sixteen  days,  against  Eck,  Faber,  the 
not  unlearned  but  extremely  passionate  Doctor  Murner  of  Strass- 
burg,  preacher  at  Luzern,  and  their  friends,  who  were  present 
in  great  numbers.  Meanwhile  Zwingli  was  not  idle.  Every 
evening  a  report  of  the  proceedings  was  brought  to  him  from 
Baden,  for  inspection,  counsel  and  advice.  According  to  his 
own  statement,  he  did  not  see  his  bed  for  nearly  three  weeks. 
CEcolampadius  and  his  friends  had  to  contend  with  no  despica- 
ble antagonists,  in  the  presence  of  hearers,  the  majority  of 
whom  were  prejudiced  against  them.  And  the  difficulty  was 
increased  by  the  fact  that  Eck  and  Faber,  to  whom  it  was  as- 
signed to  draw  up  theses  for  dispute,  cunningly  enough  passed 
over  the  perplexing  points  touching  the  Church,  the  power  of 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  223 

the  Pope,  the  celibacy  of  the  clergy,  the  rules  of  fasting  and 
the  like,  but  pushed  into  the  foreground,  on  the  contrary,  as 
the  most  important,  those  touching  the  Muss,  because  they 
could  assail  the  view  of  Zwingli  and  (Ecolanipadius  on  the 
Lord's  Supper  in  part  with  Luther's  own  arguments.  '  A  letter 
from  Erasmus  against  this  view  also  came  to  their  aid,  which 
was,  according  to  a  report,  extant  in  the  university  of  Paris, 
read  at  Baden  with  great  applause,  and  did  the  more  injury  to 
the  Reformers,  the  higher  the  opinion  of  Erasmus  was  prized 
by  liberal  theologians. 

Amid  all  this,  Qllcolampadius  knew  how  to  keep  his  ground 
manfully.  His  quiet  demeanor  and  moderation  served  him  no 
less  than  his  learning,  in  which  he  was  scarcely  inferior  to 
Zwingli  himself.  One  of  the  Catholic  party  is  said  to  have  cried 
out,  whilst  he  was  speaking  :  "  0  if  the  long,  yellow  man  were 
only  on  our  side  I"  His  external  appearance,  as,  clad  in  simple 
clothing,  he  appeared  in  a  rough-hewn,  unadorned  pulpit,  was 
only  the  more  dignified  in  contrast  with  the  richly  carved  throne 
on  which  Eck,  Faber  and  their  distinguished  friends  sat  in 
silken  robes,  puffed  up,  and  hung  around  with  golden  chains 
and  crosses.  At  the  close  of  the  Conference,  the  latter  declared 
the  victory  theirs.  This  decision  was  likewise  ratified  by  the 
four  presidents,  the  majority  of  the  deputies  of  the  Diet  and  by 
far  the  greater  number  of  the  attendant  scholars  and  clergymen. 
Only  ten  of  the  latter  came  out,  over  their  own  signatures,  in 
favor  of  Q^colampadius,  and  with  him  against  the  justness  of 
the  theses  put  forth  by  Eck  and  Faber.  Berchthold  Haller, 
along  with  several  others,  retired  before  the  termination  of  the 
Conference.  Before  the  assembly  broke  up,  Thomas  Murner  ap- 
peared, by  permission  of  the  presidents,  and  read  aloud  forty 
propositions,  which  he  had  posted  up  as  the  errors  and  blasphemous 
assertions  of  Zwingli,  on  the  church-doors  at  Baden,  and  declared 
himself  ready  publicly  to  prove  as  such  against  him ;  but  since 


224  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

the  challenged  party  had  staid  away  in  a  cowardly  fashion,  he 
could,  in  accordance  with  all  law,  human  and  divine,  proclaim 
him,  this  tyrant  of  Zurich,  and  his  followers,  dishonorable,  per- 
jured, sacrilegious  and  God-forsaken  people,  of  whose  company 
every  honest  man  ought  to  be  ashamed,  and  shun  them  as  per- 
sons unclean  and  ripe  for  damnation.  Zurich  had  to  endure 
this,  which  was  reported  to  her,  and  a  haughty  letter  from  the 
deputies  of  the  Twelve  Cantons  besides.  Much  was  said  in  it 
about  Zwingii's  lies ;  he  was  accused  of  ridiculing  the  Confed- 
erates, of  making  seditious  speeches,  and  of  a  never-ceasing 
hostility.  They  were  now  tired  of  this  disorder,  and  if  the 
government  of  Zurich  would  not  banish  the  everlasting  disturber, 
they  then  would  be  compelled  to  make  known  to  their  subjects 
in  city  and  canton  the  injury  they  suffered, — to  appear  before 
the  bailiwicks,  so  that  the  honest  people  might  become  acquainted, 
not  with  Zwingii's  little  book  and  slanderous  invectives  alone, 
but  the  reply  of  their  Confederates  also.  What  would  come 
out  of  this,  the  Council  of  Zurich  might  consider  in  their 
wisdom. 

I\leanwhile,  the  tidings,  that  a  victory  was  gained,  spread  on 
all  sides,  "We  thank  the  Most  High" — wrote  the  deputies 
of  the  Twelve  Cantons  from  Baden  to  Duke  William  of  Ba- 
varia— "that  Your  Princely  Grace  sent  over  to  us  the  highly- 
renowned  Doctor  Eck ;  for  truly  he  has  defended,  according  to 
the  Holy  Divine  Scriptures,  his  Christian  theses — the  chief 
points,  which  the  Lutheran  or  Zwinglian  deluding,  heretical 
sect  have  ventured  to  assail  and  pervert — so  bravely  and  with  such 
skill,  that  undoubtedly  good  will  come  of  it;  and  it  will  be  ad- 
mitted by  every  sensible  man,  possessed  of  a  good  conscience, 
that  truth  and  victory  are  on  our  side — with  our  old,  undoubted 
Christian  faith."  Reports  of  the  triumph  of  the  Catholics 
reached  Zwingli  from  his  friends  also.  Comander,  pastor  in 
Chur,  told  him  of  letters  received  there,  and  of  the  alarm  of  all 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  225 

(he  friends  of  reform.  George  Mangolt  wrote  from  Constance : 
"Every  day  letters  arrive  here  from  Baden.  0  how  the 
Papists  rejoice  !  They  say  that  Gilcolampadius  is  overthrown; 
that  he  has  been  vanquished  in  three  points  ah-eady,  and  will 
be  completely  so  in  a  few  days;  that  he  is  like  a  child — as  soon 
as  he  is  laid  hold  of  with  a  little  more  earnestness  than  usual 
he  begins  to  tremble,  yea,  even  to  weep."  Indeed,  great  hopes 
were  built  on  the  issue  of  the  Conference  by  all  the  friend.-!!  of 
the  Old  Order.  Zurich  appeared  to  stand  alone,  deserted  by 
all  hersister-confeddrates.  Berchthold  Haller  was  intimidated; 
fficolampadius,  though  he  did  not  yield,  looked  into  a  dark 
future,  for  he  could  number  as  many  enemies  as  friends  in 
Basel.  Under  these  circumstances,  everything  depended  on 
Zurich,  and  especially  the  firmness  of  Zwmgli. 

After  taking  earnest  counsel,  it  was  resolved  to  send  the  fol- 
lowing declaration  to  all  the  Tv/elve  Cantons:  "We  have  ex- 
amined your  letter  touching  ourselves  and  our  preachers,  and 
are  filled  with  great  surprise,  grief  and  regret.  We  and  our 
preachers  are  attacked  therein  with  haughty,  sharp-  and  violent 
words,  although  in  our  own  opinion  we  are  innocent.  We  had  in- 
deed thought  that  the  many  things,  which  he  and  we  have  sent  to 
you  from  pen  and  press,  would  have  been  honorably  considered 
and  well  received  by  you  and  your  advisers.  Nevertheless? 
Master  Ulric  will  vindicate  himself.  But  to  you,  dear  Con- 
federates, because  you  desire  an  answer  from  us  at  the  next 
Annual  Reckoning,  we  send  what  follows  :  We  have  violated 
no  treaty,  given  ear  only  to  the  Divine  Word,  and  invited  any 
one  to  prove  us  in  error.  No  one  has  come  to  do  this.  It  is 
well  known  how  we  have  been  excluded  from  the  Diet,  and 
how,  without  consulting  us  and  in  the  face  of  Our  protest,  the 
Conference  was  tranferred  to  Baden.  You  ask  us  to  pro- 
hi])it  Master  Ulric  Zwingli  from  publishing  books  and  writings 
against  you,  because  it  is  contrary  to  oui-  treaties,  and  yet  it  is 


226  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

clear  to  you  and  all  men,  that  Doctor  Eck  and  Faber,  and  their 
adherents,  have  issued  sundry  little  books  and  writings  for  the 
dishonor,  shame  and  derision  of  us  and  our  preachers,  which 
were  carried,  sent  over  and  circulated  at  the  Diet,  and  in  many 
other  places,  far  and  near,  with  boastful  pomp  and  rejoicing, 
and  have  been  read  and  listened  to  with  evident  relish  ;  and  truly 
it  ought  and  must  deeply  pain  and  grieve  us,  as  pious,  honest, 
faithful  Confederates,  that  such  strange,  foreign,  slanderous  and 
wicked  people,  who,  beyond  doubt,  wish  not  only  to  lessen  and 
obstruct  the  profit,  honor,   piety  and  welfare  of  our  glorious 
Confederacy,  but  according  to  their  race  and  nation,  under  a 
false  show  of  good,  to  obliterate  and  utterly  destroy  it,  should 
receive  almost  more  respect,  confidence  and  esteem  than   we. 
And  yet,  God  knows,  we  have  never  had  any  higher  wish  than 
to  live  on  friendly   terms   with  you,  our  dear   Confederates, 
and  assist  in  all  things,  which  might  serve  to  the  praise,  profit, 
honor  and  welfare  of  the  United  Confederacy;  and  as  formerly, 
in  the  pressure  of  war  and  other  secular  aflairs,  we  faithfully 
plediicd  to  you  our  persons,  honor  and  property,  like  good,  honest 
Confederates,  and  poured  out  our  blood,  so  would  we  now  do, 
without  looking  back,  as  our  pious  forefathers,  when  our  coun- 
try calls  for  it.     If  then,  you  had  written,  that  you  wished  to 
appear  before  our  congregations,  we  indeed  would  have  made  no 
objections;  but  since  it  is  contrary  to  treaties  and  old,  praise- 
worthy custom  and  usage  to  do  so  without  our  consent,  we  hope 
you  will  follow  them.     If  com{)laints  only  were   to  be  made, 
truly  we  would  have'more  reason  to  urge  them  than  you.    What 
hard  and  unbecoming  speeches  are  not  we  and  ours  compelled 
to  hear,  when   we  meet  you  and  yours  in  market-places,  for 
buying  and  selling!     And- did  not  that  foreign  monk.  Doctor 
Muruer  of  Luzeru,  for  the  first  time,  at  this  Diet,  publish  against 
us  a  little  book,  full  of  scand:il  and  lies,  and  go  to  the  furthest 
lengths  of  malice,  when  out  of  an  envenomed,  envious  heart,  he 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  227 

defamed  and  abused  us  and  ours  in  the  highest  degree,  in  the 
presence  of  natives  and  foreigners,  after  the  disputation  held  at 
Baden,  and  aJl  with  such  knavery,  that,  amid  many  piouF,  hon- 
est men,  who  heard  him,  there  was  little  displeasure,  and  yet 
no  one  called  him  to  order  ?  Indeed  it  were  much  better  if  we 
sought  to  put  away  such  people,  who  bring  no  honor  or  profit  to 
either  party.  Heretofore  matters  proceeded  very  differently  at 
the  Diet,  when  we  conversed  together  about  that  which  might 
promote  the  honor,  the  happiness  and  the  welfare  of  our  Con- 
federac}',  and  lived  in  old  friendship,  brotherly  fidelity  and  love." 
The  answer  of  Zwingli,  who  was  the  most  aggrieved,  was 
thought  to  be  more  rude  and  independent:  "That  I" — he 
wrote — ''have  reviled  the  Twelve  Cantons,  is,  honorable  Lords, 
unjustly  charged  against  me;  but  that  I  would  expose  the  prac- 
tices of  Faber,  who  can  justly  blame  me  for  that?  Faber  him- 
self coaid  not  st-and,  if  he  would  visit  me  in  the  place,  where 
we  have  pledged  sufficienc  security  to  Eck  and  him.  That 
more  words  of  scandalous  abuse  stick  in  me  than  words  of  Holy 
Writ  and  truth.  1  must  allow  you  to  say.  You,  the  Five  Cantons, 
have  proclaimed  me  a  heretic  before  all  the  conferences  or  dis- 
putations, which  cannot  bo  made  out,  though  I  should  not 
stand  up  to  answer  you.  If  there  be  real,  genuine  desire  to 
learn  the  Word  of  God  in  truth,  we  must  not  attempt  it  with 
courtesans,  the  whole  Papacy  and  such  dishonest  people,  who  like 
Eck  have  spoken  so  scandalously  in  regard  to  an  estimable  Con- 
federacy. That  I  have  often  been  blamed  by  you  for  lying, 
falsehood  and  deceit,  I  must  likewise  commend  to  God.  l]ut 
I  do  indeed  think,  if  this  letter  of  your  deputies  were  read  at 
home  before  the  Twelve  Cantons,  the  smaller  number  would  be 
pleased  with  it.  Pardon  me,  dear  Lords,  I  also  know  in  part 
how  things  went  at  the  Diet." 

'^  Since  then,  it  is   your  opinion,  that  my  Lords  ought  to 
thrust  me  aside  and  the  like,  I  tell  you,  they  are  too  pious  for 


228  LirE   OE   ZWIAGLT. 

that;  because  they  know  well  that  you  first  assailed  me  and  so 
often,  that  I  was  obliged  on  their  account  to  write,  for  the  pre- 
servation of  God's  Word,  their  honor  and  my  own.  It  seems  to 
me,  that  your  faith  is  but  ill  kept  toward  my  Lords  and  me;  (for- 
give me,  gracious  Lords)  though  heretical  opinions  are  tolerated 
in  the  pulpits  of  several  cantons,  I  must  keep  silence  in  mine, 
and  their  honest  people,  when  they  do  business  among  you,  are 
often  and  disgracefully  abused,  and  there  is  no  punishment  or 
redress." 

^'  Finally,  you  say,  if  my  Lords  do  not  cast  me  off,  you  will  take 
occasion  to  make  known  at  Zurich,  before  the  city  and  the  canton, 
what  you  have  suffered  from  them  and  me ;  to  which  I  answer : 
If  the  Articles  of  Confederation  would  permit,  I  would  be  willing 
that  you,  my  Lords,  and  I  should  freely  explain  how  matters 
have  been  going,  not  only  before  the  communities  of  my  Lords, 
but  before  all  the  people  of  the  entire  Confederacy.  But  since 
this  may  not  be,  do  you  keep  to  the  Articles  of  Confederation 
and  your  own  communities,  and  leave  the  communities  of  my 
Lords  in  peace;  for  if  you  were  to  come  before  them,  there  is 
no  doubt  they  would  give  you  in  their  simplicity,  in  all  honor 
and  fairness,  as  good  and  earnest  answers  as  my  Lords  themselves. 
In  regard  to  these  things,  gracious  Lords,  0  that  for  Uod's  sake 
you  were  willing  to  go  into  yourselves  and  not  always  act  in  a 
passion  \" 

Of  course,  language  of  this  kind  was  not  just  calculated  to 
calm  the  minds  of  his  opponents,  and  could  not  but  wound 
deeply  the  pride  of  the  Five  Cantons,  who  were  implacable  enough 
without  it.  It  appeared  the  more  intolerable  to  them,  because 
they  regarded  themselves  as  conquerors,  yea  if  tliey  could  only 
agree,  in  a  certain  measure,  the  second  authors  and  founders 
of  the  Old  Confederacy,  that  held  fast  to  the  faith  and  customs 
of  their  ancestors.  Nearly  all  the  Confederate  deputies  in 
Baden  happened  to  belong  valso  to  the  friends  of  the  Old  Order^ 


LIFE   OF   ZAVrXCLT.  229 

and  particularly  the  ambassador  from  Bern,  Caspar  von  Mue- 
linen.  Their  agreement  in  opinion  gave  assurance  to  the  can- 
tons, who  now  undertook  to  publish  the  acts  of  the  disputation. 
It  is  probable  that  this  was  not  done  without  the  consent  of  the 
remaining  deputies,  with  the  exception  perhaps  of  Adelberg 
Meier.  Leaving  Basel  out  of  view,  in  Bern,  Glarus,  SchafF- 
hausen,  Appeuzell  and  partly  even  in  Solothurn,  the  confidence 
in  the  Five  Cantons  was  not  so  strong  as  among  the  deputies  of 
these  states  at  the  Diet,  and  when  they  brought  home  a  report 
of  the  proceedings  in  Baden,  a  very  decided  feeling  was  mani- 
fested among  the  councils  and  people.  Our  attention  must  now 
be  directed  chiefly  to  Basel  and  Bern. 

In  Basel,  the  higher  classes,  with  but  few  exceptions,  were 
unfavorable  to  the  Keformation.  The  bishop  and  the  chapter 
of  the  Cathedral  exercised  considerable  influence.  The  Uni- 
versity also,  in  the  greater  part  of  its  members,  was  not  the  least 
inclined  to  the  new  dogmas  and  forms.  CEcolampadius,  who,  a 
short  time  befcft,  had  become  a  professor  there,  stood  nearly  iso- 
lated among  his  colleagues,  especially  since  Pellican  (Conrad 
Kuersner),  former  teacher  of  the  Hebrew  hmguage,  his  tried  friend 
and  companion  in  the  faith,  had  accepted  a  call  to  Zurich.  Eras- 
mus, startled  from  his  proud  and  comfortable  ease — summoned 
from  his  student's  chamber,  whence  he  was  accustomed  to  lord  it 
over  the  learned  world,  to  conflicts  before  turbulent  assemblies  of 
the  people,  began  to  exhibit  more  and  more  dislike  toward  this  re- 
volutionary agitation.  When  he  met  CEcolampadius,  to  whom 
he  had  before  shown  much  good-will,  on  the  street,  he  turned 
away  from  him  with  an  aversion,  which  he  did  not  strive  to  con- 
ceal. It  is  true,  he  disdained  also  to  take  part  in  the  dark  doings 
of  the  monks,  those  heresv-hunters  of  the  Roman  See ;  but  ap- 
pears to  have  seen,  not  without  pleasure,  the  quarrel,  then  al- 
ready rising  between  the  Boformers  themselves,  touching  the 
doctrine  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  used  it  so,  as  to  decide  in 

2d 


230  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

favor  of  no  party,  read  lectures  to  all,  and  maintain  as  long  as 
possible  his  former  superior  position  over  against  them.  His 
correspondence,  indeed,  all  his  connection  with  Zwingli  had 
ceased.  But  the  latter  had  to  experience  something  still  more 
severe  in  the  behavior  of  Glareanus,  the  first  and  warmest  friend 
of  his  3'outh.  As  late  as  the  first  Religious  Conference  in  Zu- 
rich he  had  expressed  to  Zwingli  his  joy  and  approval  of  the 
result,  and  for  a  time  took  his  part  with  Erasmus.  Now  he 
turned  away  from  the  Reformers  more  decidedly  than  the  old 
theologian  himself,  became  more  and  more  violent  in  his  enmity 
to  them  and  their  cause,  and  like  Erasmus,  though  two  months 
earlier,  left  Basel,  which  had  become  hateful  to  him,  in  order 
to  settle  as  an  academical  teacher  in  the  still  Catholic  University 
at  Freiburg,  in  the  Breisgau.*     In  the  Small  Council  there  was 

■*  It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  many  readers  to  learn  something 
of  the  after  fate  of  this  man,  who  occupies  so  prominent  a  pLace  in 
the  foregoing  history.  His  last  letter  to  Zwingli,  as  far  as  known,  is 
dated  February  14th,  1523,  and  his  last  to  MyconivJrSeptember  4th, 
1524.  In  these  already  he  complains  of  the  restless  agitation  in  Basel, 
rising  up  in  hostility  to  every  more  moderate  view:  "It is  my  convic- 
tion," he  writes,  "that  at  present  obstacles  are  thrown  in  the  way 
of  the  sciences  as  well  as  of  the  Gospel,  by  none  more  than  by  those 
who  made  us  believe,  they  would  have  swallowed  both.  Yet  one  durst 
not  complain  aloud;  for  that  old,  < Leave  me  my  Christ  untouched,'  has 
lately  become  a  litany  among  them.' "  Now  more  than  ever  his  life 
was  devoted  to  the  study  of  Grecian  and  especially  Roman  antiquity  ; 
for  theology  and  church  history  he  never  had  any  great  affection.  In 
the  beginnings  of  the  Reformation  he  looked  chiefly  at  the  victory  of 
science,  the  revival  of  the  study  of  the  languages,  the  need  of  a  more 
thorough  investigation  of  the  classical  ages,  and  was,  therefore,  favor- 
able to  it.  But  as  soon  as  this  Reformation  ventured  forth  from  the 
narrow  circles  of  the  academical  lecture-room,  the  student's  chamber 
and  the  polite  world,  to  move  in  which  had  become  a  matter  of  neces- 
sity to  him,  upon  the  theatre  of  public  life,  and  appeared  under  demo- 
cratic forms  ;  as  soon  as  unlearned  advocates  for  it  rose  up  bertide  the 
educated  and  strove  for  approval  and  influence  with  the  people,  wound- 


LIFE    OP    ZWINGLI  231 

a  minority,  few  in  numbers,  with  Adelberg  Meier  at  their 
head,  in   favor  of  reform;  in  the  Great  Council   the  number 

ing  liis  refined  taste  by  their  rude  manners  and  their  rough  hmguage, 
he  began  to  grow  uneas}'.  lie  feared  directly  the  opposite  of  what  he 
had  first  hoped  for,  the  final  overthrow  of  all  thorough  scientific  cul- 
ture. Of  the  great  transformation  wrought  in  the  life  of  the  church 
and  the  people,  with  its  beneficitil  results  for  religion  and  politics,  he 
had  no  sense,  because  he  never  traveled  beyond  his  Roman  and 
Grecian  studies.  The  bitterness  of  his  feelings  found  vent  in  subtle 
and  sometimes  malicious  scorn  Even  in  presence  of  his  scholars  and 
house-companions,  whose  number,  as  he  always  kept  a  boarding  house, 
was  seldom  under  twenty,  he  allowed  himself  to  call  (Ecolampadius 
^^  (Ecodiabolos"  (House-devil),  or  '^  Schlampadius."  It  can  readily  be 
imagined  that  when  this  became  ^'uown  it  created  a  dislike  toward  him 
among  his  former  admirers,  and  especially  among  the  young.  He  re- 
ceived an  unequivocal  proof  of  it,  when  passing  through  Zurich.  Having 
arrived  there  with  wet  garments,  he  asked  his  host  for  the  loan  of  a 
dry  coat  that  he  might  walk  out.  The  latter  assured  him,  perhaps 
maliciously,  that  he  had  only  a  yellow  one  to  spare,  which  he  durst 
not  olfer  him.  In  spite  of  the  strange  color  Glareanus  put  it  on ;  but 
scarcely  had  he  appeared  on  the  street,  when  he  saw  himself  sur- 
rounded by  a  troop  of  mocking  school-boys,  to  whom  he  had  probably 
been  betrayed.  *'  Ay  !  ay  !  Glareanus,  how  you  are  tricked  out !  We 
must  learn  your  verses,"  and  similar  things  were  shouted  in  his  ears. 
On  his  return,  the  landlord  m«t  him  with  the  words :  "  Out  of  the 
mouths  of  children  and  sucklings  hast  thou  prepared  praise  for  thy- 
self." His  opinion  of  the  age  became  more  and  more  gloomy.  His 
secret  grudge  against  it  is  particularly  visible  in  his  letter  to  yEgidius 
Tschudi,  who,  like  him,  had  remained  true  to  the  Catholic  confession. 
"The  young  men  of  the  present  day,"  he  wrote  in  1550,  "resemble 
those  of  Sodom  and  Gomorah.  Drunkenness,  perfidy,  ungodliness, 
dishonoring  of  the  holy  have  overpowered  all  their  natures.  Never 
was  the  world  so  corrupt  as  now."  And  yet,  at  that  very  time,  he 
had  often  so  many  hearers  in  Freiburg,  that,  instead  of  the  usual  lec- 
ture-room the  Aula  (the  hall  for  examinations  and  celebrations)  had  to 
be  {iiven  up  to  him.  He  continued  to  exercise  his  chosen  calling  with 
unwearied  activity,  until  he  closed  his  eventful  life  in  the  seventy- 
fourth  year  of  his  age.     It  is  remarkable  that,  notvrithstanding   his 


232  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

was  larpcer,  but  also  a  minority.  Among  the  burgliers,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  party  of  Q^^cohimpadius  increased  daily. 
To  this,  his  behavior  at  i>aucn,  wliich  drew  praises  even 
from  his  opponents,  contributed  no  little.  The  fluctuating 
opinions,  in  regard  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
had  caused  him,  previous  to  the  Conference  at  Baden,  to 
make  known  his  view  on  the  subject  in  a  special  work.  The 
Council  forbade  its  publication,  because  nothing  so  stirred  up 
the  passions  of  men  like  this.  But  now,  since  the  matter  had 
been  publicly  handled  by  him,  in  the  Religious  Conference, 
there  was  no  longer  any  reason  to  keep  it  back  from  the  press. 
Sent  forth  by  one  of  the  most  famous  professors  in  the  Univer- 
sity, contradicted  by  none  of  his  colleagues,*  it  came  to  be 
looked  upon  in  a  certain  measure  as  a  confession  of  faith  on  the 
part  of  the  faculty.  At  the  same  time,  also,  Q^]colampadius,  to 
the  great  annoyance  of  his  adversaries,  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  introduction  of  church-singing  in  Grerman;  for  the  govern- 
ment, in  accordance  with  the  feeble  advice  of  Erasmus,  in  an- 
swer to  the  question  as  to  how  it  should  act  amid  the  zeal  for 
innovation  breaking  out  on  all  sides,  adopted  vacillating  measures ; 
to-day  it  suffered  the  departure  of  individual  monks  and  nuns 
from  their  cloisters ;  to-morrow,  in  order  to  make  such  cases 
less  frequent,  it  denied  the  rights  of  citizenship  to  those  who 
had  gone  out,  and  rendered  the  practice  of  any  worldly  calling 
difficult;  now  it  ratified  episcopal  laws,  and  then  arbitrarily 
abolished  festival-days;  in  one  church  it  supported  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  mass,  in  another  allowed  it  to  be  abolished,  so  that 

dislike  to  tlic  Pteforraation,  the  General  Inquisition  at  Madrid,  as  late 
as  the  year  16G7,  included  him  among  "  the  authors  of  cursed  memor}^ 
who-c  works,  published  or  yet  to  be  published,  are  forbidden  without 
exception." 

*  The  polemical  treatise  of  Erasmus  on  th'i.5  same  subject  appeared 
earlier ;  besides,  Erasmus  was  not  actually  a  teacher  in  the  University. 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  233 

Basel  was  as  good  as  given  up  by  tlie  Five  Cantons.  They  re- 
fused the  Council  there  permission  to  examine  the  acts  of  the 
ReHgious  Conference  at  Baden  before  their  publication,  and  on 
the  13th  of  July,  1526,  resolved,  in  connection  with  Freiburg 
and  Solothurn,  to  keep  the  oath  of  confederation  as  little  with 
Basel  as  with  Zurich  and  St.  Crall. 

So  determined  were  the  Five  Cantons,  especially  since  the 
Conference  at  Baden,  only  to  acknowledge  in  the  future  those 
of  their  Confederate-sisters  as  such,  who  would  adhere  along 
with  them  to  the  former  doctrines  of  the  church.  What  au- 
thority they  arrogated  to  themselves  in  this  respect  over  the 
others,  is  plainly  visible  in  their  behavior  toward  Bern.  Not- 
withstanding her  repeated  requests,  the  acts  of  the  Baden 
Conference  were  not  communicated  to  her;  her  conduct  was 
subjected  to  severe  censure,  and  it  was  resolved  to  send 
thither  a  delegation  to  confirm  the  alliance  by  an  oath;  but 
only  after  the  Great  Council  and  the  consulting  deputies  of  the 
districts  had  declared  solemnly  beforehand,  that  Bern  would 
not  desert  the  Five  Cantons  in  matters  of  faith,  yea,  would  even 
recall  her  former  grant  in  favor  of  the  free  interpretation  of  the 
Scriptures.  Indeed,  she  was  obliged  to  draw  up  a  sealed  de- 
claration to  this  effect.  But  with  that  even  the  Five  Cantons 
were  not  satisfied.  '^A  command" — so  it  is  enjoined  in  the 
letters  of  their  Conference  at  Luzern — "  shall  be  given  to  our 
envoys  at  the  swearing  of  the  treaty  as  to  what  more  shall  be 
said  to  our  Confederates  at  Bern,  v:hich  they  shall  indeed  hear.'* 
What  this  may  have  been  will  become  intelligible  to  us,  when 
we  have  taken  a  nearer  view  of  the  religious  and  political  con- 
dition of  Bern,  as  it  then  was. 

From  the  earliest  period  of  the  Confederacy  down,  a  mutual 
friendship  had  existed  between  Bern  and  Zurich.     In  the  old 
wars  against  Zurich,  when  all  the  Confederates  appeared  in  ♦ 
hostile  array  against  her,  Bern  had  stood  out  for  a  long  time; 

20* 


234  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

and  at  great  sacrifice,  had  ecdeavored  to  bring  about  a  re- 
conciliation, and  was  tlie  first  to  reach  out  again  the  hand 
of  peace.  She  thankfully  acknowledged  the  true  help,  which 
Zurich  had  aiforded  her  in  the  Eurgundian  wars.  Not  seldom 
was  she  solicited  to  act  as  mediator,  in  disputes,  which 
Zurich  had  vnth  her  own  subjects,  and  always  discharged  her 
commission  with  kindness  and  honor.  In  the  quaiTels  also 
with  other  states,  arising  in  consequence  of  the  reforms  in 
Zurich,  she  took  no  part  in  the  hostile  measures  contrived 
against  her,  and  the  insults  offered  to  her  ambassadors;  on  the 
contraiy,  did  all  she  could  to  preserve  peace.  But  a  short  time 
before  the  Conference  at  Baden,  she  had  publicly  declared : 
''  Though  our  dear  Confederates  of  Zurich  should  not  be  willing 
to  accept  the  proposals  of  compromise  drawn  up  by  us,  we 
have  still  unanimously  resolved  neither  to  separate  from  them 
nor  from  our  other  allies,  but  faithfully  to  adhere  to  all  sworn 
treaties."  This  was  the  disposition  of  the  canton;  this  the 
policy  of  the  government,  which,  among  all  the  Swiss  states, 
was  the  least  inclined  pcrhnps  to  enter  into  religious  polemics 
and  ecclesiastical  movements.  Political  and  warlike  interests 
prevailed  ^vifch  it  j  with  the  people,  those  of  a  material  nature. 
Become  wealthy  by  agriculture,  rejoicing  in  ease  and  prosperity, 
they  felt  little  need  of  subjecting  their  faith  to  trial,  and  had 
just  as  little  occasion  to  defend  it  at  any  great  sacrifice.  In 
spiritual  matters  they  stuck  to  their  leaders,  whose  contrary 
views,  especially  since  the  Conference  at  Baden,  began  to  show 
a  bolder  antagonism.  And  yet  it  was  rather  the  external  form 
than  the  inward  substance,  which  they  regarded;  the  usages 
of  the  cliurch,  rather  than  the  dogmas,  which  they  assailed; 
the  dominion  rather  than  the  teachings  of  the  priests,  against 
which  they  rose  up.  The  mode  of  conflict  was  also  different. 
Teachers  were  closely  watched;  great  caution  enjoined  on  the 
preachers ;  attacks  oa  points  of  faith  not  suffered  either  in  tho 


LIFE   or   ZWINGLI.  235 

pulpit  or  in  disputations;  and  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  fully  as 
much  freedom  of  speech  prevailed  in  private  life  as  in  Zurich : 
the  nuns  of  gentle  birth  in  Kcenigsfeld  left  their  convent  and 
married  without  hindrance,  and  even  the  head  of  the  priestly 
order,  Provost  Nicholas  von  Wattenweil,  had  taken  to  wife 
Clara  Mai,  a  Dominican  sister  of  the  Convent  in  the   Island. 
Amid  storms  of  applause,  the  Banneret  jianuel  had  allowed  a 
play  to  be  performed  publicly  in  the  Street  of  the  Cross  by  a 
young  burgher,  in  which  the  church  authorities,  the  cardinals, 
the  traffic  of  indulgences  and  various  ceremonies  were  held  up 
to  ridicule.     The  powers  then  ruling  had  no  special  esteem  for 
the  Pope,  and  would  not  tolerate  the  supremacy  of  any  bishops, 
but  just  as  little  also  the  commanding  influence  of  a  reformer. 
Such  a  state  of  things  could  not   last  long  in   any  case,  but 
the  very  means,  by  which  the  Five  Cantons  hoped  to  prevent 
the  breach,  led  directly  to  it.     These  were  their  assumptions  of 
guardianship;  their  legations;  their  letters  and   strictures,  on 
every  ordinance  of  the   Council  in  Bern,  which  they  did  not 
like;  the  conduct  of  their  envoys  at  the  swearing  of  the  treaty 
in  that  place;  their  request  that  the  deputies  of  Zurich  sent 
for  this  purpose  might  not  be  admitted  to  witness  the  ceremony; 
their  private  conferences,  to  which  Bern  also  was  not  invited; 
their  incessant  appeals  to  that  sealed  promise,  which  had  been 
extorted    only   under    the  protests  of  many   and    to  the  dis- 
satisfaction of  a  large  portion  of  the  people,  and  lastly,  their 
threats  to   appear  before   the  Bernese   districts.     Yet   it   was 
Thomas  Murner,  who  finally  brought  the   matter  to  an  issue. 
If  Eck  and  Faber  were  undoubtedly  fitted  by  their  noble  ex- 
ternal appearance — their  scientific  and  wordly  training,  to  gain 
influence  among  the  higher  classes,  so  was  the  barefooted  monk 
not  less  the  man,  to  work  upon  the  multitude  :  to  inspire  some 
with  enthusiasm  and  rouse  up  others  to  anger.      We  have  seen 
with  what  dogmaticvJ,  cunning  and  rude  language  he  assailed, 


236  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

at  Baden,  not  only  Zwingli,  but  the  Zuricliers,  and  all  tlie 
adherents  of  the  Fieformer,  to  the  great  displeasure  of  many, 
especially  the  Bernese.  The  publication  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Disputation  was  now  committed  to  this  man,  by  the  government 
at  Luzern.  In  compliance  with  truth,  it  must  be  said,  that  he 
was  guilty  of  no  falsification;  for  the  printed  copy  agrees  ac- 
curately with  the  manuscripts  of  the  four  secretaries,  which  are 
still  extant;  but  they  would  not  believe  this  in  Basel  or  Bern, 
without  comparing  the  documents,  on  account  of  the  violent 
assertions  contained  in  other  writings  which  he  then  published. 
Among  these,  everything  else  was  eclipsed  by  the  so-called 
Libel  Almanac,  whose  appearance,  with  its  vulgar  wit,  its  coarse 
language  and  its  blood-thirsty  spirit,  was  demanded  by  party- 
hatred.  The  almanac  of  the  Zurichers  gave  rise  to  its  publica- 
tion, because  they  had  omitted  the  names  of  the  saints.  In- 
stead of  these,  those  of  the  Bcformers  and  their  most  promi- 
nent adherents  were  now  introduced  under  opprobrious  epithets, 
with  printed  caricatures  alongside.  It  was  issued  in  Luzern — 
tinder  the  eyes  of  the  government — and  widely  circulated.  And 
as  the  preachers  and  other  respectable  men  of  Bern  were  not 
spared  in  it,  the  government  demanded  satisfaction — indeed 
united  with  that  of  Zurich  for  this  purpose.  These  two  states 
were  thus  drawn  nearer  and  nearer  together.  The  former  ap- 
peared at  the  conferences  instituted  by  the  latter  in  opposition  to 
those  of  the  Five  Cantons,  and  when,  on  Easter  Tuesday  of  the 
year  1527,  the  election  for  the  Councils  arrived,  the  friends  of 
reform  carried  the  day  by  a  decisive  victory.  Some  of  the  most 
violent  of  their  opponents  were  ousted  from  both  Councils,  and 
several  others,  among  whom  was  Caspar  von  Muelinen,  before 
mentioned  as  deputy  at  Baden,  were  obliged  to  go  back  from 
the  Small  to  the  Great  Council;  but  the  question  was  put  to 
all  the  districts  of  the  Canton,  whether,  in  order  to  please  the 
Five  Cantons,  they  would  adhere  to  that  forced  resolution  to 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  237 

alter  nothing  in  matters  of  religion,  which  would  only  lead  to 
difficulty,  and  since  it  had  been  published,  had  produced  nothing 
but  hate  and  discord?  The  number  of  persons  in  city  and 
canton,  who  were  decidedly  in  favor  of  it,  was  small,  and  hence 
the  ordinance  was  issued  by  both  Councils,  that  the  free  preach- 
ing of  the  Gospel  should  be  restored,  exercised  and  protected, 
but  that  no  changes  should  be  allowed  in  the  use  of  the  sacra- 
ments and  churchly  customs,  except  by  general  consent  and 
approbation. 

But  whilst  these  things  were  taking  place  in  Bern,  another 
storm  was  brewing  among  the  enemies  of  the  Reformation  at 
Zurich.  Notwithstanding  all  that  had  gone  before,  some  were 
still  found  here,  who  secretly  drew  pensions,  and  these  in  unison 
with  the  discontented  clergy,  formed  a  dangerous  party,  whose 
hopes  were  newly  revived  by  the  result  of  the  Conference  in  Ba- 
den. To  them  Zwingli's  opponents  in  the  other  cantons  silently 
turned,  and  the  Beformer  was  threatened  with  a  new  battle. 
Let  us  hear  his  own  description  of  it,  in  a  letter  to  his  friends  in 
Basel  and  Strassburg:  ''For  some  time  back,  a  great  deal  of 
movement,  a  bustling  and  joyful  assembling  has  been  observed 
in  the  troop  of  our  Catilinarians,'^  as  soon  as  the  cause  of  the 
Gospel  met  with  any  difficulty  in  the  way.  It  was  clear  as 
sunlight  that  these  people  would  attempt  the  same  thing,  as 
those  whose  infamous  deeds  cannot  be  unknown  to  you,  who 
have  read  the  writings  of  Cicero  and  Sallust.  I  confess,  that, 
when  their  speeches  and  actions  more  and  more  plainly  be- 
trayed their  plans  hitherto  concealed,  I,  on  my  part,  began  to 
sound  the  alarm  of  treason.  I  succeeded  also,  in  spite  of  the 
boldness  and  hypocrisy  with  which  they  came  out  against  me, 

^-  Adherents  of  Cataliue,  a  Roman,  whose  criminal  tampering  with 
the  dregs  of  the  people,  whose  attempt  at  their  head  to  revolutionize 
Pcome,  and  -whose  defeat  by  Cicero  the  consul  then  in  power,  are  pic- 
tured in  a  graphic  manner  by  the  historian  Sallust. 


238  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

in  intimidating  tlieir  fortress,  in  undermining  their  walls. 
They  believed  that  they  had  been  unobserved.  I  gave  them 
to  understand  that  this  was  not  the  case,  and  that  I  myself 
could  perhaps  make  a  disclosure.  It  happened  thus.  I  found 
myself,  without  their  knowledge,  in  possession  of  a  certain 
letter,  and  had  gleaned  besides  something  here  and  there. 
Hereupon  the  better  portion  of  the  people,  who  desired  to  put 
an  end  to  intrigues,  succeeded  so  far  that  a  dictatorship  was  in- 
stituted, not  indeed  after  the  flishion  of  the  Romans,  in  the 
person  of  a  single  individual,  but  a  commission  of  twelve  men, 
who  received  authority  to  apprehend  and  try.  The  investiga- 
tion begins.  Much  comes  to  light,  some  things  important  and 
some  not.  Now,  Grebel,  the  father  of  Conrad,  the  leader  of 
the  Anabaptists,  is  beheaded.  He,  who  stood  in  the  highest 
consideration  amongst  us,  had  received  from  the  Emperor,  the 
King  of  France  and  the  Pope  more  than  1000  gold-florins  un- 
der pretence  of  benefits  bestowed  on  his  son.  Several  escaped, 
for  the  gates  were  negligently  guarded;  one  on  a  cart,  con- 
cealed under  a  load  of  rubbish  and  dung.  Another,  a  hunch- 
backed man,  was  put  to  the  rack.  The  dictatorship  and  in- 
vestigation still  continue.  As  for  me,  I  exhort  some  to  take 
example  from  such  a  result,  and  others  to  aid  in  rooting  up  the 
evil." 

The  hatred  of  the  defeated  party,  their  friends  and  their 
followers,  may  easily  be  imagined.  But  for  once  there  was  no 
prospect  of  a  speedy  revenge.  Several  attempts  on  their  be- 
half were  made  in  the  canton  without  success.  To  Buelach, 
where  something  had  been  undertaken  in  favor  of  the  crimi- 
nals, the  government  wrote:  "We  hear  that  you  venture  to 
hold  meetings  on  account  of  the  punishments  we  have  inflicted 
on  the  disobedient  and  invite  others  thither.  This  sounds 
badly  in  face  of  your  solemn  pledges,  to  give  the  go-by  to  all 
foreign  lords.     Cease  from  such  intrigues,  or  we  will  take  the- 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLT.  239 

matter  in  liand  for  you  with  such  earnestness  and  boldness, 
that,  with  the  help  of  God,  we  will  become  your  masters,  and 
not  you  ours."  Respect  for  the  Reformer  grew;  his  influence 
began  to  spread  widely,  even,  beyond  the  limits  of  the  canton. 
After  the  narration  of  these  events,  we  turn  back  again  to 
the  affairs  of  Bern.  The  power  of  this  state,  the  ideas,  which 
were  entertained  of  the  sagacity  of  its  rulers,  made  it  evident, 
that,  just  as  the  case  was  decided  here,  so  would  it  be  in  a  good 
portion  of  the  Confederacy.  And  now,  within  the  walls  of 
Bern,  Zurich  and  the  Five  Cantons  had  to  fight  their  next 
battle.  They  did  it  first  by  embassies;  but  whilst  the  Zurich- 
ers  deported  themselves  with  modesty,  the  Five  Cantons 
used  rough,  domineering  language,  which  found  no  approval 
even  from  those,  who  otherwise  were  not  well  inclined  toward 
the  Reformation.  But  the  Bernese  felt  more  and  more  sensibly 
the  inconvenience  arising  from  the  discord,  which  passed  over 
from  the  sphere  of  religion  into  that  of  their  politics.  Both 
parties  longed  for  a  decision.  The  proposal  to  hold  a  religious 
conference  of  their  own,  met  with  growing  favor.  Both  parties 
counted  on  victory.  The  opponents  of  the  Reformation 
grounded  their  hopes  on  the  issue  of  the  Conference  at  Baden, 
and  on  the  aid  promised  them  by  Conrad  Treger  of  Freiburg, 
Provincial  of  the  Augustines,  who  had  some  reputation  for 
learning.  Haller  and  his  friends  turned  their  eyes  to  Zwingli. 
They  did  not  rest  until  the  Council,  which  at  first  intended  to 
restrict  the  invitation  to  the  Conference  to  narrower  limits,  had 
extended  it  to  the  whole  Confederacy.  In  the  most  anxious 
letters  Haller  entreated  the  Reformer  not  to  remain  away.  He 
Bent  the  theses  drawn  up  by  him  and  his  colleague,  Francis 
Kolb,  to  Zwingli  for  revision,  with  the  request  to  have  them 
printed  in  Zurich.  The  town-clerk  of  Bern  did  the  same  thing, 
in  the  name  of  the  Council.  Zwingli  promised,  sent  books  and 
advice,  and  spread  the  Bernese  letters  of  invitation  also  among 


240  LIFE    OF    Z  WING  LI. 

his  friends  in  German}^  ''We  have/'  Haller  had  written, 
"  the  wolf  bj  the  ears,  but  only  between  door  and  hinge,  and 
do  not  know  how  to  deal  with  him.  Therefore,  there  is  some 
hope  among  all  good  Christians  here  that  thou  wilt  come.  Thou 
knowest  what  is  now  laid  on  Bern,  and  what  great  scandal, 
scorn  and  shame  would  at  once  fall  upon  the  Gospel  and  us, 
if  we  should  not  prove  sufficient  for  the  task.  The  burgomaster 
Roist,  when  he  was  last  here,  gave  us  to  hope,  that  he  would 
also  come.  Have  no  fear  of  wa3^-laying,  our  government  vrill 
provide  for  jour  safe-conduct.  Believe  me,  many  call  for  you. 
But  others  prophesy  that  my  Lords  will  not  make  much  out 
of  the  disputation,  and  the  last  disappointment  will  be  greater 
than  the  first.  Stand  by  me,  or  rather  undertake  it  thyself. 
I  have  written  to  GEcolampadius,  but  do  not  know  whether  he 
will  come;  he  has  answered  that  he  would  like  Zwingli  to  sup- 
port us.  Samma;  He  has  bathed,  (j^chadct),  thou  shouldst 
lead  the  bear-dance.''  "^ 

Zurich  had  heard  the  resolution  of  the  Bernese  with  great 
joy.  Immediately  a  public  safe-conduct  was  made  out  for  all 
travelers  to  J^ern,  and  attendance  at  the  Conference  recom- 
mended to  all  belonging  to  the  canton,  especially  to  the  priests, 
who  had  not  yet  joined  in  the  Heformation ;  but  Zwingli,  who 
had  urgently  begged  for  permission,  was  commanded  to  go  thither, 
and  the  learned  Pellikan  and  Collin,  along  with  the  preacher 
Megander,  to  assist  him,  all  at  the  expense  of  the  government. 

"What  anxiety,  on  the  other  hand,  this  disputation  created 
among  the  Five  Cantons,  appears  from  their  attempts  to  pre- 
vent it.  Immediately  after  the  resolution  of  Bern  was  made 
known  to  them,  by  her  public  proclamation,  they  called  together 
a  conference  in  Luzern,  at  which  also  Freiburg,  Solotliuru  and 

*  [CEcolumpadius  had  played  the  liero  at  the  Conference  of  Baden, 
he  had  gcladet ;  Zwingli  should  now  do  the  same  at  Bern,  in  whose 
coat  of  arms  the  bear  occupied  a  prominent  place. — Translator.'] 


LIFE    OP    ZWINGLI.  241 

Glarus  were  represented.  A  letter  of  warning  was  there  re- 
solved on.  The  Five  Cantons  believed,  moreover,  it  should  be 
drawn  u]^,  less  in  the  name  of  their  governments  than  in  that 
of  the  Confederacy.  From  that  very  moment,  when  they  be- 
gan to  fear,  lest  other  states  would  likewise  venture  to  unite 
with  Zurich,  their  strenuous  efforts  were  directed  to  the  pres- 
ervation at  least  of  a  majority  of  votes  in  the  General  Diet.  In 
this  they  could  not  fail.  They  were  sure  of  Freiburg,  they 
counted  on  Solothurn,  but  Glai-us  they  endeavored  to  secure  by 
the  same  means  which  had  proved  abortive  with  Bern.  Here, 
however,  they  seemed  to  succeed  better.  In  fact,  the  general 
assembly  of  the  canton  handed  over  at  their  request  a  sealed 
promise  not  to  separate  themselves  in  matters  of  faith.  In  this 
posture  of  affairs,  they  held  immoveably  firm  to  the  opinion, 
that  whatever  seven  or  eight  out  of  thirteen  states  thought  fit, 
should  be  considered  the  decision  of  the  Confederacy.  But  our 
whole  earlier  history  shows  how  varying  the  practice  was  in 
this  respect,  how  single  cantons,  how  a  united  minority  of  them 
often  refused  to  acknowledge  the  resolutions  of  the  majority;  how 
differently  the  very  Articles  of  Confederation  themselves,  and 
their  right  to  enforce  obedience  were  explained,  or  stretched,  to 
suit  particular  cases.  But,  if  ever  it  was  their  design  to  justify 
the  political  liberty  of  each  individual  member  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, thmi  surely  it  must  be  so  in  matters  of  religion,  which 
are  nowhere  touched  on  in  the  letter  of  these  Articles,  whilst 
the  dominion  of  one  over  the  consciences  of  the  others,  is  far 
less  in  harmony  with  their  spirit. 

So  had  Zurich  looked  upon  the  matter  from  the  beginning. 
So  was  it  now  regarded  by  Bern,  with  a  more  decided  purpose 
not  to  surrender  the  principle  involved.  From  this  time  forth 
two  parties  began  to  form  themselves  in  our  country,  who  were 
diametrically  opposed  in  their  views  of  the  nature  and  obliga- 
tions  of  the   Articles  of  Confederacy.     The  question  at  first 

21 


212  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

by  no  means  took  the  same  shape  as  it  did  in  later  times  :  Shall 
only  one  ecclesiastical  system,  or  several,  be  allowed  within  the 
limits  of  a  single  state?  much  less  that  which  it  now  holds  in 
America:  Shall  the  state  not  concern  itself  at  all  about  the 
religious  creed  of  its  citizens?  Religion  and  politics,  church 
and  state  were  then  thought  to  be  inseparably  bound  together. 
Only  this  was  asked :  Shall  a  single  state  choose  its  own  eccle- 
siastical system,  or  be  suffered  to  change  it  by  its  own  sovereign 
authority?  or  has  it  no  such  right?  IMust  law  be  given  to  it 
perpetually  from  without,  by  a  power  which  stands  over  it, 
which  even  has  its  head  on  the  other  side  of  the  Alps?  The 
Five  Cantons,  who  adhered  to  the  latter  view  without  faltering, 
were  not  willing  to  maintain  it  merely  within  their  own  limits, 
but  wished  to  have  it  uttered  and  acknowledged  as  a  funda- 
mental principle  of  the  Confederacy,  and  the  minority  to  submit 
to  the  majority  in  its  application. 

This  shows  itself  plainly  in  the  contents  of  a  letter  sent  by 
them  to  Bern,  directly  before  the  Religious  Conference  held 
there.  "Truly,"  so  it  runs,  "with  no  less  fear  than  wonder 
have  we,  dear  Confederates,  received  your  notice  of  a  conference. 
What  can  have  induced  you  to  make  such  a  move — you,  who 
not  two  years  ago  would  have  esteemed  an  undertaking  of  that 
kind  contrary  to  all  honesty.  Christian  order  and  law,  and  a 
breach  of  old  usages  and  sworn  treaties?  and  so  we  esteem  it. 
Whence  comes  it?  Ah,  God  mend  it!  only  because  you  have 
given  too  long  a  rein  to  your  seditious,  wicked  preachers.  They 
have  persuaded  you  to  this  thing,  in  order  to  color  somewhat, 
and  in  some  measure  to  plaster  over  with  a  deceitful  show  their 
defeat  at  Baden,  where  by  the  might  and  splendor  of  the  truth, 
by  the  Holy  Scripture  itself,  they  were  struck  to  the  earth  as 
blind  men.  Remember  what  you  and  yours  swore  together 
with  us,  for  which  you  gave  us  sealed  documents,  yet  in  our 
possession.     Therefore,  we  beseech  you,  in  the  most  pressing 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  243 

and  earnest  manner:  Abandon  your  project.  Lot  us  know, 
whetlier  you  will  do  this.  On  Sunday  before  New  Year  tlie 
deputies  of  tlie  VIII.  Cantons  will  be  in  Luzern.  On  that  day 
we  will  look  for  your  answer  to  this  effect.  But  if  all  this 
warning  is  of  no  avail,  then  we  desire  you  to  summon  your 
bailiwicks  on  a  certain  day  previous  to  the  disputation,  and 
give  us  notice  of  that  day  in  due  time.  Then  will  our  Lords 
and  Superiors  send  their  embassy  to  you,  and  speak  with  you 
and  yours,  not  otherwise  than  becomes  propriety,  and  is  neces- 
sary and  convenient  for  us;  and,  if  God  will,  you  and  yours, 
us  and  ours  will  be  preserved  from  great  misfortune  and  harm. 
Meanwhile,  perhaps,  rude  speakers  may  exhort  you  not  to  suffer 
yourselves  to  be  lorded  over  by.  several  cantons,  ruled,  taught, 
and  compelled  to  believe  what  may  be  pleasing  to  them. 

"Ah,  dear  Confederates!  Neither  our  Lords  and  Superiors, 
nor  we,  ever  had  any  disposition  to  rule  and  lord  it  over  you. 
We  bring  and  compel  you  to  receive  no  new  faith.  What  is  our 
desire  and  thought?  Only  that  you  and  we  may  remain  with 
each  other,  dwell  peaceably  together  and  rule  as  your  and  our 
forefathers  did  in  the  old,  true.  Christian  faith.  In  this  your 
ancestors  and  yourselves,  your  canton  and  your  people  have 
reached  great  honor.  In  this  did  you  become  Confederates. 
In  this  have  your  ancestors  and  ours,  you  and  we  gained  many 
honorable  victories.  God  be  praised  therefor !  AYith  such  a 
faith,  and  with  the  universal  Christian  Church  we  desire  to 
remain,  and  pray  God  from  the  heart  that  He  would  prevent 
you  by  His  grace  from  separating,  not  alone  from  us  Eight 
Cantons,  but  much  more  from  all  Christendom.'^ 

Yet  this  letter,  although  made  out  in  the  names  of  the  Eight 
Cantons,  was  not  signed  by  Glarus  and  Solothurn;  not  by 
Glarus,  because  there  also  public  opinion  was  rising  up  more 
and  more  in  favor  of  Zwingli's  reforms,  which  obliged  the 
deputies  to  bo  very  guarded;  not  by  Solothurn,  because  she 


2-1:4  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

hesitated  about  expressing  herself  so  strongly  to  her  neighbor 
Bern,  to  whom  she  was  bound  by  so  many  ties.  Its  imperious 
language,  though  couched  in  soothing  terms,  was  ill  suited  to 
prevail  with  Bern.  It  roused  there  a  feeling  of  proud  inde- 
pendence, and  how  deep  a  wound  it  made,  appears  from  the  an- 
swer : 

"  You  begin  your  letter  to  us  with  reproaches  of  dishonor. 
Faithful,  dear  Confederates,  we  had  expected  better  things  of 
you.  What  we  did  was  done  for  the  Christian  purpose  of  honor- 
ing God.  We  hope  that  treaties  have  in  no  wise  been  violated 
thereby;  but,  indeed,  we  would  commend  to  your  consideration, 
whether  the  insolent  and  haughty  letter  of  your  envoys  be  in 
accordance  with  them.  You  conjecture  that  our  preachers 
have  been  the  occasion  of  this  Conference,  in  order  to  repair 
their  injuries  at  Baden,  and  color  over  their  defeat.  Dear  Con- 
federates, you  should  not  deem  us  such  persons  as  ever  to  rest  upon 
any  class  of  men  the  ground  and  assurance  of  our  true,  primitive, 
Christian  faith.  Still  less  can  we  discover  that  we  have  given 
them  too  long  a  rein,  because  you  are  ill  pleased  that  we  suffer 
the  uncorrupted  Word  of  God  to  be  preached  and  spread  every 
where  amongst  us.  Far  be  it  from  us  to  cut  ourselves  off  from 
the  Christian  Church,  whose  head  is  Christ  himself;  much 
rather  would  we  do,  whi.t  becomes  good  Christians,  defend  and 
protect  her.  And  since  you  remind  us  of  our  sealed  document, 
although  we  are  obliged  to  give  neither  you  nor  others  an  an- 
swer concerning  it,  yet  we  freely  admit  that  we  swore  on  that 
day  an  oath,  on  account  of  faith,  not  of  the  Confederacy,  but  in 
no  wise  pledged  ourselves  to  you  or  others  to  believe  what  you 
or  they  believe.  That  your  forefathers  and  ours  entered  into 
the  Confederacy  and  took  oaths  of  friendship  in  the  same  faith  we 
do  not  deny.  But  what  they  at  the  same  time  held  in  their  hearts 
is  known  to  God  'alone.  Had  they  become  so  well  acquainted 
with  the   treachery  of  Antichrist  as  you  and  we,  they  would 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  215 

hardly  have  remained  so  long  in  error.  Since  then  you  invite 
us  to  summon  our  bailiwicks,  so  that  your  envoys  may  appear  be- 
fore us  and  them,  know  ye,  that  such  a  step  is  not  in  accordance 
with  the  Articles  of  Confederation,  and  we  therefore  desire  you 
to  abstain  from  it.  And  since  you  suppose  there  are  rude  peo- 
ple amongst  us,  who  say  they  do  not  wish  to  be  lorded  over  by 
other  cantons,  nor  ruled,  nor  compelled  to  believe — there  is 
truth  in  it.  We  are  just  as  unwilling  to  go  beyond  the  Articles 
of  Confederation,  when  asked  by  you,  as  you  would  be,  if  asked 
by  us ;  we  will,  by  no  means,  suffer  or  permit  this.  Finally, 
we  understand  that  unfriendly  missives  against  us  have  been 
printed  in  Luzern,  and  it  cannot  be  forgotten  by  you,  what  was 
formerly  decreed  at  the  Diet  on  this  account.  We  pray  you, 
therefore,  to  put  a  stop  to  it,  else  we  shall  be  obliged  to  print 
replies.  This  is  what  we  send  you  in  way  of  answer  to  the 
letter  of  your  envoys,  so  that  henceforth  you  may  know  how  to 
negotiate  in  the  matter,  and  guard  against  such  insolent,  dis- 
graceful writing.'' 

The  Five  Cantons  responded  to  this  provoking  language  by 
unfriendly  measures.  They  refused  their  subjects  permission 
to  go  to  Bern,  and  denied  a  safe-conduct  to  travelers  who 
passed  through  their  boundaries.  The  government  of  Luzern, 
excited  to  the  highest  pitch  of  hostility  by  the  passionate  Doctor 
Murner,  did  not  prevent  him  from  attacking  Bern  and  her 
government  in  the  most  unmeasured  style  in  various  libelous 
writings,  issued  by  a  printing-house  of  his  own.  All  this  in- 
creased the  hatred  toward  that  state  and  the  favorable  inclina- 
tion toward  Zurich. 

Here  collected,  in  the  meantime,  all  those  persons  from 
Eastern  Switzerland  and  the  neighboring  parts  of  Germany, 
who  intended  to  be  present  at  the  conflict  in  Bern.  On  New 
Year's  evening  fifteen  hundred  and  twenty-eight  were  enter- 
tained at  the  chamber  of  the  Canons  by  the  government  of 

21* 


246  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Zurich-.  The  day  following,  preachers  and  scholars,  more  than 
a  hundred  in  number,  they  set  out,  surrounded  by  a  troop  of 
armed  men  to  command  respect,  for  it  had  been  rumored  that 
in  the  free  bailiwicks,  where  the  Five  Cantons  swayed  the  ma- 
jority of  the  rulers,  they  would  be  threatened  with  danger. 
They  reached  Bern  on  the  the  third  evening,  where  also  Gilco- 
lampadius  and  the  theologians  of  Strassburg,  Bucer  and  Capito, 
had  already  arrived.  Religion  had  put  science  in  motion. 
From  the  union  of  both,  politics  were  to  receive  their  direction. 
The  events  in  Bern  were  to  determine  the  fate  of  Switzerland. 
Statesmen  as  well  as  scholars  acknowledged  this.  The  city  had 
neglected  nothing  in  order  to  make  clear  its  honor,  its  rectitude 
and  its  hospitality.  The  government  had  exhibited  firmness  on 
all  sides.  To  the  Emperor  himself,  who  in  a  very  earnest  tone 
had  issued  a  positive  command  to  abolish  the  Conference,  it  had 
been  replied  respectfully,  but  decidedly,  that  the  preparations 
had  already  gone  too  far  to  permit  this. 

On  the  sixth  of  Januaiy  the  business  was  opened  in  the 
church  of  the  Franciscans.  Of  splendid  accommodations  for 
one  party  and  mean  ones  for  the  other,  as  at  Baden,  there  was 
nothing  to  be  seen.  Several  times  were  the  opponents  of  the 
Keformers  requested  to  assist  each  other.  ^'You  see" — said 
the  landvogt  Manuel,  who  was  appointed  to  summon  the 
speakers  according  to  the  rules — "how  ilie^  confess  the  articles 
to  be  good,  and  faithfully  keep  together;  therefore,  I  pray  and 
warn  you  once  more,  for  God's  sake,  to  bring  into  one  place 
your  opposing  speakers,  and  assist  each  other  by  counsel,  writing 
and  speaking.  This  our  gracious  Lords  will  accept  with  great 
gratitude  as  a  favorable  token  of  your  good-will." 

Into  the  particulars  of  the  Conference  it  is  not  needful  to 
enter  here.  The  whole  story  and  the  result  are  pictured  for 
us  in  a  report,  still  extant,  from  the  pen  of  a  zealous  Catholic, 
who  was  an  ear-and-eye-witness :  "  What  I  have  so  often  said," 


LIFE    OF    ZWI^^GLI.  247 

writes  Jacob  of  ^Mucnster,  priest  at  Solotliiirn,  to  a  law3^er  ia 
Majence — "has  been  clearly  exhibited  at  this  heretical  gather- 
ing. We  are  going  downwards,  only  by  our  own  indolence, 
and  because  the  head's  of  our  church  do  nothing  for  science. 
Several  of  our  adherents  in  Bern,  hitherto  members  of  the 
government,  had  implored  the  bishops  even  with  threats,  to 
send  hither  learned  men,  able  to  cope  with  the  heretics. 
No  one  came ;  no  one  sent.  At  last  appeared  a  certain  Augus- 
tinian  brother.  They  call  him  Provincial  Conrad  Freger.  He 
brought  with  him  skill  in  talking,  but  of  true  eloquence  and 
science  I  could  no-t  discover  a  trace.  When  proof  from  the 
Scripture  was  demanded,  he  traveled  off.  I  found  nothing  in 
him  but  a  barefaced  monk,  although  others  looked  for  a  prodigy. 
Still  more  boisterously  did  a  certain  Dominicaster  beat  about 
him  with  passages  of  Scripture  for  several  days,  but  in  the  end 
showed  that  he  understood  no  Greek.  The  best  among  them 
was  the  schoolmaster  of  Zofingen.  They  call  him  The  Letter. 
What  he  quoted  from  the  writings  of  the  Fathers,  in  defence 
of  the  church,  was  worth  hearing.  He  knew  more  than  all  the 
others  put  together;  yet  sufficient  power  was  lacking  in  him  also. 
Thus  must  we  mourn'  over  our  want  of  skill  and  contempt  of 
science.  Oh,  if  Erasmus  had  only  been  present !  But  I  should 
tell  you  something  about  the  heretics.  My  bile  was  stirred  up — 
hence,  only  a  little.  They  did  not  appear  to  me  so  sure  of  their 
cause,  that  we  could  not  have  frightened  them,  if  we  did  not 
gain  a  victory,  by  able  speakers,  versed  in  the  Scriptures, 
which,  however,  we  must  confess,  are  not  with  us  in  everything. 
I  often  saw  them  not  agreed  as  to  the  answer  to  be  given ;  one 
often  putting  anxious  questions  to  the  other,  often  whispering 
to  him.  Several  were  only  encouraged  and  roused  up  by  the 
pertinacious  vehemence  of  Zwingli.  This  beast  is  in  fact  more 
learned  even  than  I  had  thought.  The  saucy  CEcolampadius 
may  understand  the  Prophets  and  the  Hebrew  language  better, 


248  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

and  perhaps  equal  "him  in  Greek,  but  falls  far  behind  him  in 
fertility  of  mind,  power,  and  clearness  of  representation.  How 
Capito  should  be  rated  I  could  not  discover.  Bucer  spoke  more. 
And,  if  he  had  the  same  learning  and  knowledge  of  the  languages 
as  QScolampadius  and  Zwingli,  he  would  be  far  more  dangerous, 
80  graceful  is  his  gesture  and  manner,  and  so  pleasant  his 
speech.  Thus  we  stood,  wretchedly  equipped  against  the  most 
skillful  heretics.  Here  roared  a  little  mass-priest  one  moment, 
and  there  again  another.  Alas !  they  were  taught  choral  sing- 
ing and  nothing  else.  Honor  to  that  schoolmaster  Letter !  and 
yet  he  himself  has  not  gone  beyond  the  letter.  And  what  was 
now  the  issue  ?  Our  decided  overthrow.  How  easy  it  could 
have  been  prevented,  had  our  bishops  only  turned  their  atten- 
tion more  to  humane  studies  than  to  base  wenches.  Thou  wilt 
ask :  Is  there  no  longer  any  hope  of  mastering  this  extension 
of  heresy?  It  is  certainly  slim.  The  Luzernese,  at  the  head 
of  the  Five  Cantons,  have  taken  all  possible  pains  to  do  this, 
more,  in  fact,  than  all  the  bishops  together;  but  from  our  weak 
defence,  the  belief  has  been  impressed  on  the  multitude,  that 
we  have  nothing  to  defend,  and  the  majority  has  overcome  the 
better  minority.  Now  the  Zurichers  can  have  their  own  way 
with  them.  Thou  knowest  what  cunning  they  possess  and 
what  immoveable  constancy. '^ 

After  the  German  Conference,  which  lasted  eighteen  days, 
a  shorter  one  followed  in  the  Latin  language,  for  the  priests  of 
the  bailiwicks  of  JElen  and  Granson.  William  Farell,  a  learned 
Frenchman,  who  for  some  time  had  been  laborino:  for  the  Re- 
formation  with  the  most  unwearied  zeal,  in  Western  Switzer- 
land, had  to  do  with  opponents  still  more  ignorant  than  those 
which  fell  to  his  German  friends.  This  part  of  the  proceedings 
was  so  sadly  lacking  in  earnestness  and  dignity,  that  the  details 
of  it  were  not  suffered  to  appear  in  the  Acts  of  the  Conference, 
which  were  immediately  put  to  press  and  published  by  the 


LTFi:    OF    ZWIXCLT.  249 

government  of  Bern.  Zwingli  also  exerted  a  powerful  infiueucG 
upon  the  city  in  general,  by  two  sermons.  It  is  narrated,  that, 
during  the  delivery  of  one  of  tliem,  a  priest  threw  off  the  mass- 
robe,  which  he  had  already  put  on,  with  the  words:  "If  the 
mass  does  not  rest  on  firmer  grounds,  I  will  never  celebrate  it 
again.''  With  gratitude  the  government  of  Bern  gave  a  liberal 
recompense  to  the  foreign  scholars  and  ambassadors  and  an 
escort  until  they  had  passed  beyond  their  borders.  Two  weeks 
after  the  Conference,  appeared  their  detailed  ordinance  touching 
the  re-organization  of  the  clmrcli-system.  In  it  they  cut  them- 
selves loose  from  all  former  connection  with  the  bishops :  ''  Since 
3'ou" — so  they  say — "in  spite  of  all  prayers  and  invitations 
have  staid  away  from  the  Disputation,  and  since  you  indeed 
shear  the  poor  sheep,  but  have  not  pastured  them,  we  deprive 
you  of  your  selfish  trade,  and  neither  we,  nor  they  who  come  after 
us,  Avish  to  be  bound  in  any  way  to  you  or  your  successors.''  All 
deacons  and  pastors  are  released  from  their  oath  to  them,  and 
required  henceforth  to  give  it  to  the  government.  He  who 
refuses,  is  to  be  banished.  In  regard  to  the  mass,  images  and 
monasteries,  they  will  be  dealt  with  as  in  Zurich.  Livin*-^ 
benefactors  of  ecclesiastical  institutions  are  allowed  to  take  back 
their  gifts.  For  the  rest,  account  shall  be  afterward  rendered 
to  the  government.  Yet,  it  is  expressly  added:  "Not  that  avc 
Avish  to  appropriate  such  gifts  to  our  own  use,  as  they  are  still 
to  be  called  gtft&  of  God,  but  so  to  dispose  of  them  that  our 
honor  and  justice  will  stand  clear  before  God  and  the  world." 
Finally,  the  rules  of  fasting  and  celibacy  wore  abolished,  but 
self-government  was  demanded  for  the  freedom  restored.  On 
this  point  the  document  speaks  thus:  "And  as  we  have  here- 
tofore punished,  in  the  rate  of  t£n  pounds,  those  who  have  eaten 
flesh  and  eggs  on  forbidden  days,  so  will  we  henceforth  fine  at 
the  same  rate  all  who  take  more  than  their  nature  can  bear, 
pouring  it  down  aftor  the  ninth  slcepiugvcup,  and  those  who 


250  LIFE  OF  zvriNGLr 

drink  on  and  carouse ;  when  tliey  are  guilty  of  it  frequently, 
heavier  punishment  is  reserved,  to  be  laid  on  each  one  accord- 
ing to  circumstances. '^ 

From  what  has  just  been  narrated,  we  see  the  influence  ex- 
erted by  Zwingli  upon  Bern.  Let  us  now  take  into  considera- 
tion the  reaction  of  Bern  upon  Zwingli.  When  he  began  his 
great  work  in  Zurich,  the  path  of  its  development  could 
scarcely  have  been  marked  out  before  his  eyes.  He  little 
thought ^of  political  commotion.  Even  the  mischief  arising 
from  desertions  and  pensions,  which  he  only  fought  against  on 
account  of  their  evil  effects  on  religion  and  morals,  could  be 
prevented  without  change  either  in  the  government  of  the 
several  states,  or  in  the  ground-work,  nature  or  language  of  the 
Articles  of  Confederacy.  The  refusal  of  Zurich  to  take  part 
in  the  French  Alliance  awakened  displeasure,  it  is  true,  among 
her  sister-cantons,  but  even  this  was  followed  by  no  direct 
disturbance  of  her  relations  with  them.  Now  came  the  division 
of  the  bishopric,  already  an  influential  step.  A  new  principle 
was  introduced  into  the  ecclesiastical,  which  was  so  closely  in- 
terwoven with  the  political  life.  But  this  principle  was  re- 
jected by  all  the  other  states  up  to  the  Conference  of  Baden. 
The  Five  Cantons  and  the  party  belonging  to  the  old  faith 
hoped  from  this  Conference  so  glorious  an  acknowledgment 
of  it  in  the  others,  that  even  Zurich  would  be  obliged  to 
submit.  It  happened  otherwise.  Bern  also  fell  away  from 
the  principle  of  the  Five  Cantons.  A  new  idea  of  the  Confed- 
eracy began  to  form  itself  in  opposition  to  the  old;  but  even 
here  again  some  difference  prevailed.  The  ecclesiastical  reform 
in  Zurich  had  been  effected  by  appealing  to  the  people  and  with 
their  aid.  By  it  and  through  it,  also,  the  democratic  tendency 
in  political  life  attained  the  victory.  Toward  the  close  of  the 
year  1527,  no  more  traces  of  the  activity  of  a  Secret  Council 
are  to  be  found ;  all  business  of  any  importance  had  to  be  brought 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXOLI.  251 

from  the  Small  before  the  Great  Council,  from  whence  the 
people  were  generally  informed  of  it,  and  not  seldom  asked  for 
their  opinion.  In  particular  emergencies,  indeed,  the  Great 
Council  clothed  some  of  its  members  with  dictatorial  power, 
but  only  for  a  few  weeks  and  under  public  accountability.  But 
the  more  democratic  the  form  of  political  life  becomes,  just  so 
much  the  more  indispensable  are  culture  and  the  religious  ele- 
vation of  the  people.  The  strengthening  of  a  sense  of  right 
demands  as  a  necessary  counterpoise,  an  exalted  sense  of  duty. 
Thus  state  and  church  go  together,  indissoluble  in  their  mutual 
relations,  in  consequence  of  which  every  commotion  in  the 
sphere  of  one,  reacts  inevitably  on  that  of  the  other;  but  whilst 
the  authority  of  the  state  rests  upon  law  and  its  severe  admin- 
istration, the  power  of  the  church  ought  to  be  grounded  only  upon 
conviction,  faith,  freedom  and  love,  for  these  are  the  require- 
ments as  well  as  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  In 
a  democracy  the  law  must  be  a  most  complete  defence  against 
the  wicked;  the  Gospel  the  basis  of  all  improvement.  As  the 
principles  of  the  church  and  of  the  state  differ  in  this  way,  so  do 
they  also  in  the  mode  of  their  use.  This  difference  was  clearly 
apprehended  by  Zwingli.  We  see  it  above.  The  ecclesiastical 
and  political  reforms  of  Zurich  had  shaped  themselves  accord- 
ing to  these  principles.  In  all  religious  matters,  conviction  was 
first  sought;  in  all  political,  proof  that  the  letter  of  the  law 
would  justify  or  demand  it,  was  sufficient.  Whatever  may  be 
the  relation  of  the  church  to  the  state  in  other  forms  of  govern- 
ment, this  must  continue  the  most  suitable  for  a  democracy. 
Bern,  on  the  other  hand,  was  never  democratic.  It  is  true,  in- 
deed, that  even  here  ecclesiastical  reform  was  only  possible  by 
the  removal  of  some  of  the  most  influential  heads  of  the  aris- 
tocracy, which,  however,  did  not  succumb  as  completely  as  in 
Zurich,  so  that  even  the  friends  of  the  lieformation  and  of 
Zwingli,  who  form  the  middle  class,  worked  their  way  into  the 


252  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLT. 

government,  accepted  partly  from  necessity  and  partly  of  tlieir 
Own  accord,  aristocratic  forms  and  principles.  The  closer  the 
connection  between  Bern  and  Zurich  now  became,  the  less 
could  a  reaction  of  the  former  upon  the  latter  be  prevented. 
The  commercial  city  was  rather  disposed  to  treat  with  her  sub- 
jects, the  knightly  to  issue  her  commands.  In  Zurich  the 
Great  Council  had,  through  Zwingli's  influence,  become  the 
ruling  authority;  in  Bern,  as  might  be  expected  from  her 
character,  it  was  alwa^-s  the  Small.  As  long  as  the  Keforma- 
tion  was  confined  to  Zurich,  the  ecclesiastical  tendency  pre- 
dominated; in  proportion  as  it  passed  over  to  Bern,  Basel  and 
other  states,  the  political  gained  the  upper  hand.  The  ques- 
tion, whether  the  Church  or  the  Holy  Scriptures  ought  to 
decide  in  matters  of  faith,  was  scientific  and  historical;  that,  as 
to  how  the  Articles  of  Confederation  should  be  interpreted; 
what  was  the  limit  of  the  Diet's  authority,  and  for  what  single 
states  might  resist  a  majority  of  the  others,  belonged  to  the 
sphere  of  public  law.  By  the  accession  of  Bern  to  Zurich,  and 
the  common  position,  which  they  had  now  to  assume  and  main- 
tain against  the  Five  Cantons,  Zwingli  was  obliged  to  take  up 
this  question  touching  the  Confederacy,  to  give  counsel,  to 
mingle  in  politics,  to  tread  the  slippery  path  with  one  foot,  as 
it  were,  whilst  the  other  remained  on  the  firm  foundation  of  re- 
ligious principle.  The  consequences  of  this  vacillating  course 
are  apparent,  from  the  beginning  of  the  year  1528  onward,  in 
the  striking  change  manifest  in  his  mode  of  dealing  with  the 
affairs  of  his  own  canton.  The  same  man,  who  hitherto  had 
done  homage  to  the  principle  of  absolute  publicity,  who  ex- 
pected in  favor  of  Christianity,  as  he  found  it  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures  and  drew  it  thence,  a  more  lively  acknowledgment 
from  the  sound  sense  of  the  people  than  from  learned  craftiness; 
from  the  uncorrupted  feelings  of  men  than  philosophical  arro- 
gance, to  whom  Christianity  was  the  most  elevated — the  onl} 


LIJ-E  or  ZWINGLI  253 

worthy  religion  for  a  nation;  \7I10,  therefore,  had  to  look  to  the 
people  for  the  maintenance  of  his  reformatory  measures;  this 
same  man  began  now  to  employ  all  the  arts  of  a  politician,  for 
the  upholding  and  spread  of  these  same  measures  of  reform — 
a  bold  undertaking,  altogether  too  bold — one  that  compelled 
him  to  play  a  double  part,  in  which  superhuman  effort  he  at 
last  fell  a  bloody  sacrifice.  As  we  proceed,  this  will  become 
more  clear  and  evident  from  authenticated  facts. 

At  the  time,  when  Zurich  yet  stood  alone  among  her  sis'cer- 
confederates,  shortly  after  the  Conference  of  Baden,  when  her 
repeated  vindication,  her  fourth  complaint  against  exclusion 
from  the  public  councils  in  direct  violation  of  treaties  re- 
sounded unheard,  and  her  letters  to  the  Five  Cantons  were  no 
longer  read,  and  threats  multiplied,  the  neighboring  imperial  city 
of  Constance  found  herself  in  a  like  forsaken  condition.  There 
also,  through  the  preaching  of  Ambrosius  Blaarer,  a  friend  of 
Zwingli,  and  others,  the  reformation  of  the  church  had  made  such 
active  progress,  that  the  bishop  and  the  majority  of  the  canons 
withdrew  in  anger  to  Ueberlingen  and  Moersburg,  and  the  Em- 
peror caused  the  city  to  feel  the  weight  of  his  displeasure ;  but  the 
Council,  devoted  to  the  new  order  of  things,  looked  around  be- 
yond the  walls  for  support  in  case  of  need.  The  necessity  ap- 
peared the  greater,  because  the  suspicion  prevailed  among  many 
of  the  citizens  that  Austria,  sure  of  the  secret  approval  of  the 
head  of  the  Empire,  would  use  the  favorable  moment  to  take 
possession  of  a  place  so  well  situated  on  the  frontier.  The  be- 
havior of  the  Archducal  Vicegerent,  Marcus  Sittich  von  Ems, 
strengthened  the  suspicion.  His  troopers  rode  up  close  to  the 
gates  of  the  city.  He  himself  looked  about  in  the  neighborhood 
for  a  spot,  as  he  said,  on  which  to  pitch  a  camp.  In  these 
straits  Constance  turned  toward  Zurich  and  sought  a  defensive 
alliance  with  her.  After  long  negotiations,  conducted  in  secret, 
this  was  at  last  concluded  on  the  25th  of  December,  1527,  a 


254  LJFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

few  days  before  tlie  Zurichers  set  out  to  the  Conference  at  Bern. 
They  carried  the  news  thither.  Bern  also,  in  a  certain  measure 
by  storm,  was  won  over  as  a  party.  As  early  as  the  6th  of 
January,  1528,  the  very  day  on  which  the  Beligious  Conference 
was  opened,  the  majority  of  the  Glreat  Council  expressed  their 
willingness  to  take  the  matter  in  hand.  The  name  given  to 
the  Alliance,  the  Christian  Buergerrechty  (Citizen's  rights), 
was  easy  to  understand,  not  so  its  spirit.  In  the  ancient  treaties 
the  Five  Cantons  had  surrendered  the  privilege  of  contracting 
other  alliances  without  the  common  consent  of  all  the  states; 
the  three  original  cantons,  therefore,  could  not  permit  any  de- 
liberation among  separated  cantonal  authorities.  Zurich,  on 
the  contrary,  aud  Bern,  at  the  time  of  their  accession  to  the 
Confederacy,  had  reserved  this  privilege  in  writing.  As  a  natu- 
ral consequence,  the  ties  of  the  Federal  Compact  were  viewed 
somewhat  differently  by  its  members.  To  the  original  cantons 
they  appeared  closer;  to  the  cities,  especially  Zurich,  less  re- 
strictive. This  conflict  of  opinion  had  contributed  not  a  little 
to  the  duration  and  violence  of  the  old  Zurich  War,  in  the  pre- 
ceding century.  Now  it  revived  again,  and  that  at  a  most 
unpropitious  moment.  In  the  Buergerreclit,  stipulations  were 
certainly  made  in  regard  to  the  Emperor  and  Empire,  as  well 
as  the  Confederates,  so  that  the  obligations  under  which  the 
two  cities  had  come  toward  them,  seemed  to  be  ratified  on  the 
face  of  it;  but  this  same  Buergerrecht  spoke  also  of  the  possi- 
bility of  warlike  expeditions,  the  division  of  whatever  might  be 
conquered,  and  the  privilege  of  enlarging  and  extending  itself 
to  other  cities  and  territories.  Here  lay  the  manifest  germ  of 
a  new  confederacy,  resting  on  new  foundations,  and  the  subse- 
quent movements  of  Zwingli,  since  expressions  incontestibly 
show  that  he,  more  perhaps  than  any  statesman  in  Zurich,  had 
thought  of  such  an  issue.  The  further  the  Beformation  ad- 
vanced, the  more  did  it  appear  to  him  an  affair  of  historical 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  255 

developement,  the  author  of  new  conditions  in  political  life;  but 
to  these  very  changes,  many  of  those,  who  were  favorable  to  the 
new  religious  views,  showed  themselves  decidedly  averse;  for 
to  them  the  federal  compact,  under  its  existing  forms,  was  a 
thing  to  be  kept  inviolably  sacred.  The  time  had  come  when 
a  two-lbld  choice  was  placed  before  him;  either  of  his  own  ac- 
cord to  retire  altogether  from  the  sphere  of  politics  and,  plant 
himself  upon  purely  religious  ground,  where  he  might  be  un- 
assailable ;  or  else  to  become  more  completely  a  politician,  i.  e. 
the  soul  of  a  faithful  band  of  the  most  resolute  and  able  mem- 
bers of  the  government,  who,  now  in  a  narrow  circle  and  m 
profound  secrecy,  prepared  and  paved  the  way  for  the  most 
important  business,  such  as  that  for  which  Zwingli  himself,  at 
an  earlier  period,  had  demanded  the  greatest  possible  publicity. 
The  embarrassment  into  which  his  retreat  would  throw  the 
heads  of  the  government,  his  unrivalled  skill  in  doing  business, 
the  hope,  that  he  might  cherish,  of  seeing  his  political  plans 
succeed  as  well  as  his  reforms  in  the  church,  his  own  conviction 
of  their  necessity  in  order  to  uphold  the  religious  movement, 
and  his  peculiar  position  as  the  citizen  of  a  free  state,  who 
could  not,  as  a  man  of  science,  be  overlooked  in  the  ordering 
of  his  country's  affairs — all  this  together  drew  him  toward  the 
second  and  more  dangerous  path. 

Although,  we  observe  with  concern,  that  he  now  takes  this 
path;  although  a  foreboding  of  the  fruitless  struggles,  which  he 
thus  prepared  for  himself,  is  awakened  within  us,  there  is  also 
at  the  same  time  a  growing  admiration  of  the  power  displayed 
by  him,  and  his  persevering  activity,  not  only  in  the  field  of 
politics,  but  in  his  vocation  as  a  teacher,  preacher,  and  theo- 
loo-ical  writer,  which  he  yet  fulfilled  with  undiminished  fidelity. 
He,  who  feels  such  strength  within,  durst  aim  at  the  very  highest. 
Not  in  blind  hatred  of  the  existing  order,  would  he  destroy  it : 
out  of  party-spirit,  pride,  or  lust  for  dominion  :  a  noble  image  of  a 


-^'^  LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

father-laud  not  split  asunder,  but  made  young  again,  reviving  in 
fuller  vigor  under  new  forms,  hovered  before  his  soul.  Heart 
and  head  had  contributed  to  its  outlines;  nor  was  its  realization, 
by  means  of  a  sincere  and  general  effort,  beyond  the  range  of 
possibility.  Can  it  then  be  imputed  to  him  as  a  crime,  that  so 
few  comprehended  his  ideal,  that  the  time  was  not  ripe  for  it? 
In  Bern,  meanwhile,  the  negotiations  touching  the  Christian 
Buergerrecht  were  actively  carried  on  by  the  government  during 
the  Religious  Conference,  in  spite  of  the  opposition,  as  it  ap- 
pears, of  a  party  averse  to  the  Alliance.  Hoist  and  the  town- 
clerk,  Mangolt,  sent  information  of  this  to  Zurich  in  several 
letters.  They  spoke  of  consultations  with  intimate  acquaint- 
ances, with  trusty  friends,  and  of  the  confidential  but  unofficial 
communications  of  the  latter.  Zwingli  also,  busy  as  he  was 
during  the  session  of  that  Diet,  aided  the  Zurich  Council  by 
drawing  up  two  opinions  for  the  removal  of  certain  doubts  on 
the  part  of  Schwytz.  After  a  happy  issue  in  ecclesiastical  as 
well  as  political  matters,  Zwingli  ascended  the  pulpit  once  more 
and  took  his  leave:  ''Understand  now" — so  he  concluded  his 
discourse — ''the  liberty,  which  Christ  gives  you,  and  abide 
therein  according  to  the  word  of  the  Apostle.  You  know  un- 
der what  a  yoke  our  consciences  groaned,  and  how  we  were  led 
from  one  false  hope  to  another;  from  one  law  to  another.  But 
now  you  see  that  freedom  and  hope  rest  upon  knowledge  and 
tnist;  upon  confidence  toward  God  through  Jesus  Christ,  His 
only-begotten  Son.  Never  suffer  yourselves  to  be  robbed  of 
freedom  and  the  salvation  of  your  souls.  Nothing  requires  so 
much  courage  as  this.  And  as  our  forefathers,  thanks  be  to 
God !  stood  up  everywhere  bold  and  unterrified  in  defence  of 
personal  liberty,  much  more  should  we  stand  fast  in  those 
things,  which  give  us  peace  of  conscience  here  and  make  us 
eternally  joyful  hereafter;  not  doubting  that  God,  who  has  en- 
lightened and  drawn  you,  will  also  draw  our  dear  neighbors, 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  257 

the  other  Confederates,  in  his  own  good  time,  so  that  we  in  true 
friendship,  to  which  right  knowledge  is  in  no  wise  opposed, 
may  become  more  harmonious  than  we  ever  were  before.  May 
God,  who  has  created  and  saves  us  all,  bestow  this  upon  them 
and  us ! " 

Whilst  concord  between  Zurich  and  Bern  appeared  to  be  re- 
stored and  their  union  made  stronger  than  ever,  the  news  of  the 
prevailing  alliance  was  received  in  Luzern  with  the  liveliest  in- 
dignation. Kt  a  Diet  held  there,  to  which  he  had  come  on 
other  business,  a  Bernese  ambassador,  William  von  Diessbach, 
was  called  to  account  by  the  Five  Cantons.  It  is  very  probable 
he  affirmed  that  his  Lords  had  a  right  to  make  the  treaty. — 
Amid  outbursts  of  displeasure,  the  session  was  immediately 
raised,  but  after  his  departure  it  was  again  opened.  "  The 
Devil  take  the  old  faith;"  said  the  Bernese  upon  the  street,  <^it 
is  no  longer  tenable.''  This  saying,  reported  to  the  sergeants 
of  the  Council,  increased  their  wrath.  The  parties  were  sepa- 
ted.  To  organize  and  strengthen  themselves  was  a  natural  con- 
sequence. 


CHAPTER     SIXTH 


ORQANIZATION   OF   THE    PARTIES.      BREACH  OF   THE    GENERAL  PEACH 


jOT  only  was  tlie  reciprocal  relation 
I  of  the  states  within  the  Confederacy 
"^  changed  by  the  conclusion  of  the 
Buergert'eclit ;  but  that  of  the  entire 
1  nation  toward  foreign  countries  was 
_^^^i  just  as  much  altered.  Early  in  the 
beo-inning  of  February,  1528,  a  letter  of  the  Emperor, 
written  from  Spire,  reached  Luzern,  with  complaints 
about  this  alliance;  very  similar  ones  were  received 
iVom  the  authorities  of  the  Austrian  Government  at 
Ensisheim  and  Inspruck,  and  still  a  fourth  one  from 
the  captains  of  the  Swabian  League.  "  Constance," 
such  was  their  general  drift,  "  is  not  at  all  competent  to  con- 
clude a  treaty  of  this  kind  without  the  consent  of  the  Emperor, 
nor  have  the  Confederate  Cities  any  right  to  enter  into  it. 
It  is  not  impossible  that  it  may  yet  be  the  occasion  of  war,  and 
the  damage  resulting  may  be  ascribed  to  their  own  folly  by  the 
Confederates."  This  warning  was  very  acceptable  to  the  depu- 
ties of  the  Eight  Cantons.  It  was  immediately  communicated 
to  the  Zuriohers.  ''You  see,"  was  the  language  of  the  accom- 
panying letter,  "whither  the  necessity  of  finding  allies  for  the 
maintenance  of  your  superstition  must  lead  you.  Do  not  hope 
258 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  259 

tliat  we  will  stand  by  you  in  case  of  war.  It  is  not  our  doing  j 
we,  who  wish  to  uphold  the  laws,  regulations  and  customs  of 
our  fathers,  will  not  be  accused  of  disturbing  the  peace  of  the 
Empire.  We  exhort  you,  by  virtue  of  our  Confederation,  to 
abstain  from  unlawful  alliances.''  But  neither  Zurich  and  Bern, 
on  the  one  hand,  nor  Constance  on  the  other,  were  moved  by 
all  this.  "We  have,''  answered  they,  "strictly  examined  our 
Confederate  Charter,  our  Imperial  Privileges,  the  Hereditary 
Union  with  Austria— all  necessary  documents,  and  have  no- 
where been  able  to  find,  that  we  have  transcended  law  or  privi- 
lege. And  Constance  is  just  as  little  subject  to  Austria  or  the 
Swabian  League,  as  we.  Why  do  they  then  wish  to  interfere  ? 
Our  Buergerrecht  was  devised  not  for  disturbing  the  peace  of 
the  Empire,  but  to  aid  in  preserving  it."  Agreement  became 
more  and  more  difficult.  The  Five  Cantons,  already  standing 
in  hostile  attitude  toward  Zurich  and  Bern,  sought  to  persuade 
Glarus,  Freiburg  and  Solothurn  to  a  closer,  special  union  "  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  old,  true  Christian  faith,  the  holy  seven 
sacraments  and  particularly  the  office  and  sacrifice  of  the  mass, 
with  all  good  Christian  rules,  benedictions  and  usages,  as  handed 
down  from  our  forefathers,  nothing  excepted  "—for  the  suppres- 
sion of  every  innovation  in  the  Common  Territories,  and  armed 
succor,  if  either  there  or  on  their  own  soil  aji  attack  is  made  on 
that  faith,  whose  support  and  defence  should  be  the  highest 
duty,  higher  even  than  the  preservation  of  the  Confederacy. 
From  Freiburg  they  received  an  unconditional  assent;  from 
Glaras  and  Solothurn,  where  t'he  friends  of  Reform  were  in- 
creasing in  number,  one  with  provisos  attached.  WalHs  (  Yalois) 
also  joined  the  alliance.  More  anon.  The  time  had  come, 
when  the  Five  Cantons  began  likewise  to  look  beyond  the  limits 
of  the  Confederacy.  Austria  was  the  nearest  to  them.  Zurich 
and  Bern  had  sought  foreign  aid  in  order  to  carry  out  their  in- 
novations more  securely,  why  should  they  refuse  the  same  for 


260  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

the  preservation  of  the  old  faith,  for  upholding  the  unity  of  the 
church.  Through  the  bishops  of  Chur,  especially  through  their 
friends  in  Graubuenden,  they  hoped  to  obtain  access  to  the 
authoiities  of  the  Archducal  government  in  Inspruck.  Mean- 
while these  projects  were  kept  secret  for  a  long  time  within  a 
narrow  circle  of  those  who  could  be  trusted.  They  first  came 
to  light,  when,  in  the  summer  of  1528,  a  second  alliance  in 
addition  to  the  Christian  Buergerrecht  was  concluded  between 
Zuiich  and  Bern,  who  were  moved  thereto,  as  they  said,  by  the 
violent  suppression,  on  the  part  of  the  Eight  Cantons,  of  all  at- 
tempts at  Reform  in  the  Common  Territories.  ^'  Since,"  so  it  is 
recorded  in  the  original  documents  relating  to  this  matter,  ^'our 
dear  Confederates  of  the  Eight  Cantons  are  not  only  offended 
and  show  themselves  averse  to  us  and  our  adherents  in  our 
Christian  enterprise,  but  have  even  taken  occasion  specially  to 
pledge  and  bind  themselves  to  remain  true  to  the  old  faith,  as 
they  call  it,  and  have  attempted  to  seduce  several  of  ours  from 
their  Christian  enterprise  and  respect  and  obedience  to  us, 
promising  them  help,  counsel,  encouragement  and  succor  against 
us,  all  for  the  suppression  of  the  Divine  Word  and  of  the  duty, 
which  our  people  owe  to  us,  it  is  not  only  becoming  in  us,  but 
our  great  necessity  demands  it,  so  that  the  Divine  "Word  and 
evangelical  truth  may  not  in  any  measure  be  kept  down  by 
outrage  and  violence,  but  that  we  and  ours  may  be  allowed  to 
remain  in  the  free  enjoyment  thereof  without  any  fear  or  terror 
of  man." — And  thus  one  measure  of  mistrust  and  dislike  con- 
tinually provoked  another  still  more  hostile.  There  was  less 
and  less  concealment  in  the  efforts  of  each  to  strengthen  their 
party. 

Any  one  acquainted  with  the  history  of  Switzerland  knows 
what  ties  of  relationship,  of  agreement  in  their  manners  and 
mode  of  living,  and  neighborly  intercourse  existed  from  the 
most  ancient  times,  between  the  inhabitants  of  Obwalden  and 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI.  2G1 

those  of  the  Haslithal  and  a  part  of  the  Bernese  Oberland. 
Their  friendship  was  kept  alive  bj  popuhir  festivals  celebrated 
in  common,  and  also  by  the  revereuce  which  was  paid,  espe- 
cially in  the  interior  of  Switzerland,  to  Saint  Beatus,  who,  as 
the  first  promulgator  of  Christianity  in  that  region,  dwelt  in  a 
cave  on  the  shore  of  lake  Thun,  called  by  his  name,  and  re- 
ceived canonization.  Numerous  pilgrimages  were  made  thither 
from  the  Five  Cantons.  The  rumor,  that  the  relics  of  the  saint, 
exhibited  there  on  such  occasions,  had  been  cast  into  the  lake 
by  order  of  the  Bernese  government,  awakened  universal  indig- 
nation. But  this  was  not  true.  Two  deputies  of  the  Council 
had  taken  possession  of  them  in  order  to  carry  them  to  I^  ter- 
lachen  and  bury  them  afterward.  In  complaints  against  the 
abolition  of  their  pilgrimages,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Bernese 
Oberland  joined  with  their  neighbors  of  Unterwalden.  Pastoral 
races  are  very  tenacious  of  old  customs.  If  these  be  taken  away 
their  respect  for  law  is  often  shaken  at  the  same  time.  The 
government  of  Bern  had  to  experience  this.  Between  the  two 
lakes  of  Thun  and  Brienz  lay,  under  the  lordly  supervision  of 
Bern,  the  wealthy  Augustiniau  cloister  of  Interlachen.  Its 
domain  extended  over  a  great  part  of  the  surrounding  country 
and  through  the  mountain-valleys  of  .Lauterbrunnen  and  Grin- 
delwald.  The  monks  of  that  period  were  in  good  repute  neither 
for  their  learning  nor  their  morals.  The  Provost  himself 
Nicholas  Trachsel,  was  destitute  both  of  external  and  internal 
dignity.  And  when  the  doctrines  in  regard  to  the  uselessncss 
of  monkery,  the  unscripturalness  of  spiritual  lordship,  and  the 
rights  of  Christian  liberty  now  began  to  spread  among  the 
people  subject  to  the  foundation,  they  immediately  applied  them 
to  deliverance  from  all  dependence;  from  the  duty  of  payino- 
rents  and  tithes.  If  the  one,  said  they,  is  an  invention  of  man, 
so  is  the  other.  If  we  are  to  receive  ike  Gospel,  which  teaches 
liberty  among  brethren,  then  will  we  also  become  our  own  mas- 


262  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

ters,  an  independent  canton  like  Unterwalden  and  Uri.  The 
Provost,  who  did  not  know  how  to  resist  them,  fled  with  a  few 
friends  to  Bern,  where,  for  a  decent  maintenance,  he  surren- 
dered the  monastery  along  with  its  domains  and  privileges 
into  the  hands  of  the  Council.  Under  sanction  of  the  Great 
Council,  an  agreement  was  quickly  made  by  the  government 
with  the  assembled  convent;  its  seal,  documents,  revenues  and 
jewels  were  brought  to  Bern;  an  officer  was  sent  thither,  and 
the  whole  converted  into  a  bailiwick.  But  the  people  belong- 
ing to  the  monastery,  who  asserted  that  they  ought  to  have  had  a 
voice  in  the  change,  at  once  preferred  a  complaint.  When  the 
government  tried  to  postpone  investigation^  a  violent  insurrec- 
tion broke  out,  which  found  sympathy  even  in  some  parts  of 
their  own  district.  New  hopes  were  excited  among  the  friends 
of  the  Old  Order  by  this  uprising  of  the  malcontents,  with 
whom  the  inhabitants  of  the  Ilaslithal  and  other  Oberlanders 
also  joined,  at  the  instigation  of  their  neighbors  in  Obwalden. 
The  Council  was  in  great  perplexity.  Some  of  its  own  members 
secretly  rejoiced — but  only  the  most  violent.  With  others, 
who  also  were  little  favorable  to  the  Beformation,  the  sense  of 
duty,  which  demanded  the  sacrifice  of  personal  inclination  to 
the  interests  of  the  state,  pj-edominated.  From  this  class  chiefly, 
a  commission  was  chosen  to  examine  on  the  spot  the  grievances 
of  the  malcontents  and  negotiate  with  them.  They  succeeded 
in  restoring  political  order  by  lessening  their  rents,  tithes  and 
other  taxes;  by  remitting  more  than  50,000  pounds  of  out- 
standing dues,  and  a  promise  of  increased  support  for  the  poor 
and  sick;  but  to  allay  the  religious  excitement  was  a  far  more 
difficult  task. 

Here,  for  the  first  time,  the  two  religious  parties  appeared  in 
arms  against  each  other.  The  occasion  was  given  by  a  split 
among  the  Oberlanders  themselves — division  in  a  matter,  where 
no  majority  could  decide.     In  the  Haslithal  the  Beformation 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  263 

had  found  resolute  adherents.     They  and  the  preachers  sent 
hither  from  Bern  were  a  source  of  daily  vexation  to  their  fellow- 
citizens  of  the  old  faith,  who  surpassed  them  in  numbers.     The 
latter  sought  advice  from  their  neighbors  of  Obwalden,  who,  on 
their  part,  very  willingly  came  forward  and  tried  to  gain  over 
their  allies  to  the  support  of  the  Oberlanders.     In  this  they 
were  not  unsuccessful.     Even  the  ruling  authorities  of  the  Five 
Cantons  exhorted  them  to  hold  fast  to  the  old  religion  in  public 
or  in  private,  and  hinted  at  coming  events  and  help  just  at 
hand.     Under  the  pretext  of  looking  once  more  upon  the  bones 
of  Saint  Beatus,  the  Abbot  of  Uri,  the  landamman  and  several 
prominent  Zugers  came  to  Interlachen.     Ought  not  the  wicked 
attempt  of  the  innovators  to  commit  them  to  the  earth  be  pre- 
vented?    Captain  Schoenbrunner  of  Zug,  asserted  that  he  had 
concealed   at  least  part  of  the  relics  in  his  cap  and  thus  saved 
them.     ^'Come  to  us  in  future/'  they  now  said,  "as  we  hereto- 
fore made  pilgrimages  to  you.     St.  Beatus  lies  with  us.''     The 
public  mind  became  more  and  more  disturbed  in  the  Haslithal. 
One  Sunday  in  June,  some  of  the  leaders,-  instigated  by  persons 
from  Obwalden,  called  together  a  general  assembly  of  the  people. 
The  question  was  started  whether  the  mass  should  be  restored; 
and  it  was  decided  in  the  affirmative  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  one,  against  one  hundred  and  eleven.     Dispatches  im- 
mediately went  forth  to  Obwalden  and  Uri  for  priests,  and  several 
were  conducted  by  the  country  people  of  the  Five  Cantons,  yea, 
by  the  very  magistrates,  with  drums  and  fifes  to  Hasle  and 
Brienz;  and  mass  was  again  celebrated  amid  great  rejoicing. 
What  should  the  government  do?     It  was  a  perilous  undertak- 
ing for  them  to  carry  out  changes  in  worship  against  the  decided 
will  of  a  majority  of  the  people.     Some  members  of  the  Coun- 
cil declared  their  opposition  to  it.     The  mass,  they  thought, 
might  be  permitted,  without  bringing  back  episcopal  power  and 
foreign   church-rule.     But  the  Great  Council  firmly  rejected 


264  LIFE    OF    Z^YIXGLI. 

every  such  compromise.  Copies  of  the  treaties,  by  wticli  tliey 
had  come  under  the  domiuioa  of  Bern,  were  sent  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Haslithal,  and  appeals  made  to  their  duty  of 
submission  to  the  highest  authorities  of  the  Canton,  even  in 
ecclesiastical  affairs.  It  was  all  in  vain.  The  adherents  of 
the  old  faith,  stirred  up  by  their  new  priests,  determined  to 
yield  under  no  circumstances.  They  asked  help  from  Obwalden ; 
they  ventured  to  appear  before  the  deputies  of  the  Five  Can- 
tons, assembled  at  Beckenried,  with  a  similar  request.  But  no 
resolution  was  passed  in  their  favor;  even  Uri  and  Zug  came 
out  strongly  against  any  interference  incompatible  with  the 
federal  laws.  The  affair  was  regarded  in  a  different  light  by 
Obwalden,  and,  under  the  name,  it  is  true,  of  an  embassy  to 
mediate  between  the  parties  in  the  valley,  a  delegation  was 
sent  thither,  accompanied,  however,  by  twenty-eight  young 
men  adorned  with  lir-twigs,  the  defiant  badge  of  the  old  party. 
Instead  of  reconciliation  they  brought  fiercer  quarrels.  The 
friends  of  the  Reformation  were  roused,  when  they  ventured  to 
call  them  heretics.  Deputies  from  both  sides  now  hastened  to 
Bern,  with  prayers  for  succor  from  one  and  a  declaration  from 
the  other,  that  they  were  willing  to  obey  in  all  things,  except 
matters  of  faith,  which  neither  the  Confederation  nor  the  gov- 
ernment, but  the  Church  alone,  had  a  right  to  touch.  In  this 
emergency,  where  they  ought  to  issue  commands,  but  where 
those  commands  could  not  be  executed,  was  a  source  of  un- 
easiness to  the  most  skillful  statesmen.  Meanwhile  this  much 
was  clear,  that  a  protest  must  be  uttered  against  every  inter- 
ference from  abroad.  The  scJiuIfheiss  of  Erlach,  along  with 
two  members  of  the  Small  and  three  of  the  Great  Council,  went 
to  Sarnen.  All  save  Councillor  Wagner  belonged  to  the  luke- 
warm friends  of  the  Reformation.  It  was  hoped  that  their 
language  would,  for  this  reason,  be  less  offensive  in  Obwalden. 
The  scliultheiss,  in  his  address,  kept  wholly  within  the  limits 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  265 

of  a  political  consideration  cf  the  question.     But  when,  among 
various  cutting  remarks,  it  was  cast  up  to  him,  that  the  very 
Articles  of  Confederation,  to  which  he  appealed,  and  which 
were  formerly,  bj  reason  of  the  common,  venerable  faith  of  their 
pious  forefathers,  sworn  to  in  the  names  of  the  Saints,  had  been 
first  brought  into  contempt  by  Bern  and  violated  by  her  anti- 
christian  innovations:    ''The  Articles  of  Confederation,^'  said 
Erlach,  "do  not  touch  upon  religion,  and  grant  full  liberty  in 
regard  to  it.-— <' Well !-  replied  the  old  landamman,  Halter, 
"if  you  yourselves  say,  that  the  Articles  of  Confederation  do 
not  touch  upon  religion,  then  they  cannot  be  violated  even  by 
our  intervention  in   matters  of  faith;  and   if  your  people   or 
others  appeal   to  us  for  sympathy  or  succor,  where  true  Chris- 
tianity, as  we  have  received  it  from  our  old  fathers,  is  con- 
cerned, we  will  pledge  our  persons  and  property  for  its  main- 
tenance, and  still  keep   our  honor  towards  you.''     The  more 
clearly  the  Bernese  tried,  after  this,  to  exhibit  the  distinct 
peculiarities  and  rights  of  church  and  state  before  the  assembly 
at  Hasle,  the  more  did  they  fall,  perhaps  to  the  injury  of  their 
cause,  into  that  confusion  of  ideas,  which  is  altogether  una- 
voidable, when  we  do  not  know  how  to  discriminat-e  between 
Christ's  kingdom  of  faith  and  love,  resting  only  on  his  Gospel, 
intended  both  for  this  world  and  the  other,  whose  very  element 
is  freedom,  and  a  government  under  tyrannic  forms  established 
by  men  in  his  name.    As  a  true  knowledge  of  the  first  lies  at  the 
the  foundation  of  the  visible  church,  it  alone  can  exert  a  bene- 
ficial influence  upon  the  life  of  the  state;  yea,  without  this  in- 
fluence nothing  worthy  of  being  so  called  can  possibly  exist. 
The  opposite,  found  in  the  latter,  leads  only  to  discord. 

But  for  such  a  discrimination  of  ideas  that  age  was  not  at 
all  prepared.  Prejudiced  opinion  and  passion  triumphed.— 
A  multitude  of  excited  people,  from  all  the  vallies  of  the 
Oberland,  streamed  into  Plasle.     ''  We   ourselves,"  said  they^ 

23 


266  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

*'  desire  to  uphold  the  faith,  the  faith  of  the  church,  and 
be  separate  from  the  government.  Ou  this  faith  only  have 
we  sworn  allegiance;  if  it  be  taken  away,  our  obligations 
are  dissolved.  We  will  fall  in  with  the  Confederates,  who 
hold  fast  to  the  old  pledges."  Before  the  eyes  of  the  schuJt- 
heiss  and  his  companions,  in  direct  violation  of  the  law, 
leaders  were  chosen,  the  ministers  of  Grindelwald,  ^sche  and 
Gsteig  driven  out  of  their  houses  with  their  families,  mass- 
priests  placed  in  their  stead,  the  adherents  of  the  government 
threatened  and  compelled  to  fly,  reports  of  the  help  promised 
by  their  neighbors  circulated  on  all  sides — indeed,  after  several 
weeks  of  agitation  and  violence,  the  greater  part  of  the  Ober- 
landers,  assembled  at  Interlachen,  swore  under  no  circumstances 
to  separate  themselves  from  the  real  Catholic  church,  to  seek 
justice  from  none  but  the  Seven  Cantons  of  the  Old  Confed- 
eracy ;  to  suffer  no  persons  to  be  punished  except  under  their 
sentence  ;  to  keep  possession  of  the  cloister  and  its  domains, 
and  to  render  mutual  aid  with  their  persons  and  property. 

Bern  was  thrown  into  great  embarrassment.  Berchthold 
Haller  wrote  to  Zwingli :  ''  The  Small  Council  has  lost  its  head ; 
it  is  given  up  by  us  Evangelicals.  We  have  to  hunt  up  the 
members  at  their  country-seats;  the  vintage  serves  as  an  ex- 
cuse for  their  absence  and  neglect  of  duty.  Those  of  the  Great 
Council  murmur,  lament  and  rave ;  but  even  they  can  find  no 
remedy.  They  try  by  adjournments  and  tricks  to  avoid  the 
necessity  of  sending  out  troops.  Meanwhile  the  power  of 
Antichrist  increases  everyday."  But  the  impotence  was  not 
so  universal  as  represented  by  the  timid  preacher.  Courage 
revived ;  the  Confederates  were  written  to  for  a  faithful  examin- 
ation of  affairs  and  help  in  the  hour  of  need,  and  a  vanguard 
was  sent  to  Thun;  but  the  march  of  the  entire  army  was  de- 
layed, because  the  soldiers  were  not  to  be  trusted  in  all  cases. 
This  was  to  be  expected.     Conflicting  religious  views  and  the 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT.  2G7 

boldly  proclaimed  resolution  of  the  Oberlanders  to  risk  every- 
thing for  their  party/might  seem  to  those,  who  had  favored  the 
lieformatiou  more  from  necessity  than  inward  conviction,  no 
sufficient  reason  to  take  up  arms  against  them.     Something  else 
had  to  be  added  to  justify  the  expedition.     But  it  did  not  last. 
Even  the  lukewarm  were  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  de- 
termined action  had  become  just  as  much  a  duty  as  a  necessity. 
The  insuro;ent    Oberlanders  themselves,  though  united    for 
the  maintenance  of  the  old  faith,  were  no  wise  so  in  reference 
to  their  position  toward  the  government.     Among  a  portion  of 
them  the  feeling  of  loyalty  was  not  wholly  extinct.     They  did 
not  wish  to  separate  themselves  from  the  state  of  Bern,  nor  re- 
fuse obedience  in  political  matters.     It  was  otherwise  with  the 
more  violent,  who,  for  the  time  being,  had  the  upper  hand. 
These  latter  desired   a  formal  breach  with   the   government. 
They  continued  to  believe  in  the  possibility  of  forming  an  in- 
dependent canton  of  the  Confederacy,  under  a  constitution  and 
laws  of  their  own  making.     Moreover,    they   hoped,    should 
their   Catholic    neighbors   lend  them   aid,   to   secure  and    in- 
crease at  the  same  time  their  real  power;  and  in  the  youthful 
heads  of  Obwalden  especially  such  hopes  had  found  sympathy. 
In  fact,  eight  hundred  men  set  out  for  the  Oberland,  and  that 
under  the  banner  of  the  canton,  which  was  carried  by  a  grand- 
son of  the  friar  Nicholas  von  Flue,  and  six  hundred  men  of 
Uri  were  ready  to  follow  them  In  spite  of  the  disapprobation 
of  their  own  Council.     This  rash  proceeding  was  a  breach  of 
the  General  Peace,  according  to  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the 
Articles  of  Confederation,  and  the  Bernese  government  had 
henceforth  a  perfect  right  to  resist  it  by  arms   in  the   most 
energetic  manner.     And  so  it  happened.     Under  the  command 
of  the  Schultheiss  Von  Erlach,  five  thousand  men  provided 
with  artillery  and  all,  necessary  supplies  marched  out.     From 
the  very  moment,  when  the  power  of  the  government  was  dis- 


268  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

playedj  the  confidence  of  its  friends  increased  and  the  courage 
of  its  enemies  sank.  Many  of  the  Oberfanders,  who  were  in 
Interlachen,  saw  the  arrival  of  the  men  of  Obwalden  with  con- 
cern, knowing  their  cause  would  be  rather  endangered  than 
promoted  by  them.  They  began  to  rue  the  step  they  had  taken, 
and  quietly  to  desert  the  ranks  of  the  insurgents.  A  hurried 
embassy  from  Basel,  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  around 
Sarnen,  and  even  a  deputation  from  Luzern  showed  the  men 
of  Obwalden  that  their  invasion  was  a  breach  of  the  Federal 
Compact,  with  good  effect  upon  the  more  considerate.  Cold 
weather  was  approaching,  and  the  rain  poured  down  in  tor- 
rents; they  became  fearful,  if  they  did  not  speedily  return 
home,  of  finding  the  mountain-passes  blocked  up  with  snow, 
and  hence  the  Bernese  advanced  without  resistance,  wdiilst  the 
enemy  retreated  and  in  the  end  dispersed.  The  more  peace- 
able and  better-thinking  people  of  the  Five  Cantons  expected 
this  turn  of  afi'airs,  yea  even  wished  it.  "  Then  the  peasants," 
so  writes  Captain  Shoenbrunner  of  Zug  in  his  journal,  which  is 
still  extant,  '^  went  back  again  to  their  Lords  of  Bern,  which 
was  not  improper;  for  it  is  natural  for  every  man  to  cleave  to 
his  own." 

The  punishment  that  followed  was  truly  severe  :  the  restitu- 
tion of  all  property  stolen  or  destroyed,  payment  of  costs,  the 
acceptance  of  the  Reformation,  the  surrendry  of  their  banners 
with  the  seal  of  the  canton,  and  the  abrogation  of  all  privileges 
and  immunities,  formed  the  chief  items.  The  oath  of  uncon- 
ditional obedience  had  to  be  sworn  on  their  bended  knees. — 
''Then,"  we  are  told  by  a  contemporary,  ''the  horse-guards 
were  sent  into  all  the  insurgent  villages,  and  especially  into  the 
valley  of  Grindelwald  to  apprehend  the  real  authors  of  the 
mischief,  the  ringleaders  and  the  pillagers.  Then  were  the 
houses  of  the  rebels  ransacked,  and  their  cattle,  goods  and 
possessions,  and  whatever  property  belonged  to  the  Unterwal- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  26J) 

deners  in  the  canton  were  taken  and  confiscated  to  the  city  of 
Bevn,  though  afterward  through  pitv  much  was  given  back 
again  to  women  and  children.  Hereupon  some  arrived  from 
Halse,  Brienz,  Grindelwald,  Habkeren  and  Rinkenberg  in 
chains.  These  they  sent  with  the  others,  who  were  captured 
on  the  ascent  at  Oberhofen,  to  Thun,  and  thence  to  be  dealt 
with  according  to  their  deserts,  well  guarded  to  Bern."  A 
number  of  the  parties  most  deeply  implicated  escaped  punish- 
ment by  fleeing  to  Obwalden.  Among  these  was  a  certain 
Hans  im  Sand,  an  aged,  wealthy  and,  in  other  respects,  esti- 
mable man.  He  afterward  crossed  over  the  Bruenig  by  stealth 
to  visit  his  family,  and  was  then  betrayed,  condemned  and  be- 
headed. In  accordance  with  the  barbarous  custom  of  the  age, 
his  widow  was  obliged '  to  pay  the  executioner,  who  went  him- 
self to  get  his  wages.  At  the  earnest  request  of  those,  who 
had  remained  faithful,  part  of  their  privileges  were  gradually 
restored,  first  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Haslithal  and  then  to 
the  people  of  the  monastery.  Most  of  the  captives  were  set 
free  through  the  prayers  of  friends  or  by  giving  bail.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  brother  of  the  Provost  of  Interlachen  and  two 
more  of  the  principal  rebels  were  executed,  and  Christian  Kolb, 
who  had  everywhere  stirred  up  the  insurgents  to  excess  and 
violence,  was  not  only  slain  but  quartered. 

After  this  victory,  the  government  of  Bern  addressed  itself 
to  the  establishment  of  the  Reformation  in  the  entire  canton  as 
well  as  to  its  more  rapid  difi'usion  in  all  parts  of  the  Confeder- 
acy. St.  Gall,  where  the  mass  and  images  had  already  been 
laid  aside,  now  joined  the  Christian  Buergerrecht.  In  Basel, 
the  middle  class  took  a  still  bolder  stand  against  the  more  aris- 
tocratic party  belonging  to  the  old  faith.  The  Council  was 
divided  and  cramped;  one  burgomaster  stood  opposed  to  the 
other.  Now  the  deputies  of  the  cantons  and  now  those  of  the 
cities  appeared  with  attempts  at  mediation.     The  churches  re- 


270  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

echoed  with  the  mutual  recriminations  of  the  mass  priests  and 
the  preachers.  QEcolampadius  wisely  continued  to  speak  in. 
favor  of  peace,  but  he  could  not  bring  it  about;  for  the  time 
for  anything  like  compromise  had  gone  by.  Crowds  of  armed 
men  broke  into  the  churches  by  force,  altars  were  overthrown, 
pictures  and  images  dashed  to  pieces,  dragged  into  the  streets 
and  burned  :  the  Small  Council  was  compelled  to  exile  twelve 
of  its  members,  and  the  Great  Council  to  increase  its  number 
by  the  admission  of  four  associates  from  each  guild.  A  com- 
mittee, appointed  by  them  and  armed  with  full  authority,  suc- 
ceeded in  restoring  quiet.  The  introduction  of  the  Reformation 
into  the  whole  canton  followed  these  events.  In  Glarus  also, 
SchafFhausen,  Appeuzel  and  Graubuenden  the  new  party  gained 
strength  every  day.  Even  Solothurn  no  longer  stood  firm  in 
the  old  faith,  especially  since  Berchthold  Halle'r  had  been  called 
thither  as  a  preacher. 

In  all  directions,  with  unremitting  zeal,  by  his  counsel,  by 
his  writings,  by  his  correspondence,  Zwiugli  wrought  upon  the 
government  of  Zurich,  which  committed  to  him  the  drawing  up 
of  its  opinions,  and,  as  appears  from  the  protocols,  usually  gave 
him  a  voice,  during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  in  the  most  im- 
portant deliberations  of  a  political  nature.  When  the  thorough 
measures,  which  he  wished  and  demanded,  met  with  resistance 
from  those,  who  were  yet  averse  to  church-reforms,  he  procured, 
by  means  of  a  fiery  sermon,  about  the  close  of  the  year  1528, 
the  passage  of  a  law  compelling  the  members  of  Small  and 
Groat  Councils,  man  for  man,  to  declare  and  avow  their  faith, 
and  accept  preaching  and  the  Lord's  Supper  in  the  Evangelical 
mode.  Some  were  excluded  from  the  Small  Council,  who 
would  not  make  this  promise.  Equally  clear,  from  his  corres- 
pondence, is  the  great  attention  bestowed  by  him  on  events  oc- 
curring outside  of  the  fatherland;  the  proceedings  of  the  Im- 
perial Diet,  the  mandates  of  the  Emperor,  and  the  measures  of 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  271 

AiLstria.  Even  before  tlic  treaty  of  the  Buergerrccht  was  rat- 
ified with  Constance,  he  received  hints  from  different  quarters 
in  regard  to  secret  negotiations  carried  on  between  the  authori- 
ties of  the  Austrian  government  and  the  Jive  (Jantons.  The 
apprehensions  might  perhaps  be  exaggerated.  But  they  struck 
him  as  important.  Hence  he  did  not  strive  to  conceal  the  pos- 
sibility of  war;  and  a  historical  work,  which  would  give  a  full 
portrait  of  so  great  a  character,  durst  not  suppress  the  fact,  that 
previous  to  the  Conference  in  Bern  he  had  prepared  for  such  an 
emergency  a  very  elaborate  plan  of  defence,  which  is  still  ex- 
tant in  his  own  hand-writing.*  He,  who  would  censure  him 
for  this,  should  not,  on  the  other  side,  forget  the  courageous 
spirit  which,  at  a  time,  when  Zurich  stood  almost  alone  in  the 
Confederacy,  still,  relying  only  upon  the  truth  and  justice  of  the 
cause  to  be  defended,  thought  it  possible  to  maintain  the  battle 
against  such  overwhelming  odds  as  then  existed.  In  this  feel- 
ing the  pamphlet  was  thrown  off,  from  the  beginning  of  which 
we  make  the  following  extract :  '^  The  author  has  pondered 
over  this  counsel  for  the  honor  of  God  and  the  good  of  Christ's 
Gospel,  so  that  wickedness  and  injustice  may  not  get  the  upper 
hand  and  put  down  the  fear  of  God  and  innocence.  In  tjie 
first  place,  it  should  be  proclaimed  in  all  parishes  in  the  city  and 
canton,  that  all  men  earnestly  beseech  God  never  to  let  us 
counsel  or  act  contrary  to  His  divine  will;  and  also,  if  it  be 
consistent  with  that  divine  will,  to  remove  all  victory  from  oui 
enemies  and  bring  forth  the  honor  of  His  Word,  as  well  as 
grant  us  grace  to  live  in  accordance  with  his  will.  Of  course 
this  work  should  begin  at  home;  for  there  is  need  to  let  all 
the  people  in  the  city  and  canton  know  with  what  violence  and 
treacheiy  some  of  the  Confederates  have  acted  toward  us,  all 
which  has  been  borne  with  a  patient.  Christian  spirit,  in  hope 

■^'-  It  is  printed  at  large  in  EscJier  and  HoUinger^  fuer  Schweizerisclio 
GcsoUicLtc  und  Laudeslrondo.     Cd.  II.  S.  20C  ff. 


272  LIFE   OF   ZWIXGLT. 

of  a  change  for  the  better;  that  now  no  choice  is  left  but  to 
defend  ourselves  in  a  knightly  fashion,  or  else  to  renounce  God 
and  His  Word;  and  that  it  is  the  determination  of  the  good 
city  of  Zurich  to  lose  everything :  state,  goods,  town,  country, 
body  and  life,  rather  than  abandon  the  truth  she  has  professed. 
Each  and  every  district  ought  to  be  commanded,  in  case  any  one 
is  not  willing  thus  seriously  and  honestly  to  stand  by  the  Word 
of  God,  the  city  and  the  canton,  to  notify  him  in  the  beginning, 
that  he  must  go  off  in  three  days  under  suitable  conditions. 
But  whoever  has  courage  enough  to  pledge  soul,  honor,  life  and 
property  to  God's  Word  and  the  city  of  Zurich,  to  him  shall  be 
said  that  you  have  received  such  and  such  counsels,  and  that 
you  yourselves  act  wholly  for  God,  and  will  protect  yourselves 
and  Plim  from  all  harm."     These  counsels  now  follow.     They 
furnish   proofs  of  his  knowledge  of  foreign  and   domestic  rela- 
tions as  well  as  the  arts  of  political  life  and  stratagems  of  war. 
He  afterward  shows  how  they  ought  to  conduct  themselves  to- 
ward the  Emperor,  France,  other  neighbors,  every  canton  of 
the  Confederacy,  their  allies  and  the  common  territories.     He 
unfolds  the  advantages  of  striking  the  first  blow,  of  suprises  in 
war;  he  enters  even  into  the  nature  and  use  of  various  kinds  of 
weapons.     But  then,  he  concludes:  ^' These  crude  and  smoke- 
stained  plans  I  have  hastily  brought  together  for  the  sake  of 
certain  violent  and  dishonest  persons,  who,  beyond  all  propriety 
and  in  the  teeth  of  the   Federal  Compact,  threaten  the  good 
city  of  Zurich   with  war.     Still,  I   have  an   undoubting  hope 
that  Almighty  God  will  not  let  the  pious  people  of  the  Confed- 
eracy suffer  for  the  treachery  of  a  few,  nor  permit  us  thus  to 
sit  in  judgment  on  each  other.     I  have  prayed  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart,  that  he  will  defend  his  city  in  some  other  way  than 
the  one  here  pointed  out,  and  cause  the  pious,  common  people 
to  dwell  peacefully  together  in  one  Confederacy."     How  deeply 
concerned  he  was  in  guiding  the  ship  of  state  is  cleaT  from  the 


LIFE    OF    ZV\'IN(!LT.  273 

fact,  that  in  this  same  sketch  he  even  designates  the  indi- 
viduals, who  might  be  safelj  entrusted  with  the  command  of 
the  different  batalions  as  well  as  with  seats  in  the  council  of 
war,  adding,  it  is  true:  ^'But  a  muster  can  hurt  nobody." 
From  such  labors  he  hurried  off  to  write  letters  to  theolo-ians, 
to  study  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to  mount  the  pulpit,  to  draw  up 
•  ecclesiastical  regulations  and  formulas  of  worship.  Qnly  such 
a  man  was  able  to  carry  out  the  Reformation  in  a  free  state. 
Instead  of  condemning  him,  we  must  keep  this  steadily  in  view, 
and  be  careful  not  to  form  our  judgment  according  to  the  ideas 
of  the  nineteenth,  but  of  the  sixteenth  centifry. 

Over  against  this  activity  of  the  Reformed,  that  of  the 
Catholic  party  now  developed  itself  in  silence,  but  with  no  less 
energy.  This  became  manifest  at  the  close  of  the  year  1529 
At  the  same  time  the  adherents  of  the  Reformation  had  already 
gained  so  great  a  preponderance  in  Glarus,  that  there,  as  in 
Bern,  the  sealed  promise,  given  to  the  Five  Cantons,  of  fidelity 
to  the  old  faith  could  no  longer  be  upheld  as  a  law  of  the  land 
A  number  of  parishes  in  the  Thurgau  and  the  valley  of  the  Rhine 
had  applied  to  Zurich  for  Evangelical  preachers.  In  spite  of 
the  kunhojt  of  the  Five  Cantons,  who  had  gone  to  prevent 
them,  they  made  their  appearance  there,  and  the  church-reo-u- 
lations  of  Zurich  were  introduced  under  the  very  eyes  of  tlie 
Catholic  envoys.  The  Toggenburgers  also,  through  the  unde- 
niable influence  of  Zwingli,  rose  up  against  the  ecclesiastical 
supremacy  of  their  liege-lord,  the  Abbot  of  St.  Gall.  He  sick 
and  deserted  by  a  portion  of  the  members  of  his  convent  had 
been  carried  to  Rorschach,  whilst  the  burghers  of  the  city  be- 
gan more  freely  to  exercise  a  control  and  gradually  to  assume 
the  command  m  the  monastery,  and  even  in  the  cathedral.  In 
Graubuenden,  the  Abbot  of  St.  Lucien,  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful supports  of  the  Bishops  and  the  Catholic  party,  had  been 
executed  for  bribery  and  criminal  intrigues,  and  in  Sch.xnnis, 


274  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

in  the  very  presence  of  a  threatening  embassy  from  Schwyz, 
the  wooden  images  of  the  Saints  were  brought  out  into  the 
street.  ^' See,"  cried  the  excited  youth  to  them,  ^Miere  is  the 
road  to  Schwyz;  here  to  Glarus;  here  Zurich.  Choose  which 
you  will  take ;  you  have  a  safe-conduct.  If  you  cannot  travel  you 
must  burn."  When  the  Catholic  rulers  wished  to  avenge  this, 
outrage,  the  burghers  of  Wesen  sought  aid  from  Zurich,  which, 
because  she  had  no  jurisdiction  in  that  region,  was  denied 
them. 

If  the  Reformation  should  continue  to  spread  in  this  way, 
what  was  left  for  the  Five  Cantons,  except  to  throw  open  at 
last  their  own  territory  for  its  entrance,  or,  surrounded  by  op- 
ponents, to  see  themselves  overwhelmed  in  case  of  war,  and 
reduced,  perhaps,  to  the  most  fearful  want  by  the  obstruction 
of  commerce  ?  Under  these  circumstances  many,  whose  ideas 
of  affairs  were  just,  gradually  yielded,  and  what  had  for  a  long 
time  been  secretly  hoped  for  by  a  few,  an  alliance  with  their 
powerful  neighbor,  Austria,  who  likewise  remained  loyal  to  the 
faith,  found  increasing  favor  among  the  rulers  of  the  people.  On 
the  14th  of  February,  1529,  deputies  of  the  Five  Cantons  met 
the  Austrian  authorities  at  Feldkirch.  Whether  they  had  in- 
vited them  thither,  as  a  historian  of  Luzern  informs  us,  or 
whether,  as  said  by  several  reporters  of  the  opposite  party,  one 
of  whom  was  himself  present  as  a  spy,  the  suit  of  the  Austrian 
counsellors  at  first  foiled  through  the  great  coldness  with  which 
it  was  received  by  the  Confederates,  can  scarcel}^  be  ascertained 
now.  The  records  afford  no  proof  for  either  view.  In  the 
meantime,  a  draught  of  a  mutual  treaty  was  made,  which,  if 
approved  by  the  Archduke  Ferdinand,  King  of  Hungary  and 
Bohemia,  as  well  as  by  the  Councils  and  parishes  of  the  Five 
Cantons,  was  to  be  published  and  ratified  as  a  definitive  alli- 
ance in  Waldshut.  This  took  place  in  April,  and  in  the  same 
month  King  Ferdinand  himself  handed  over  a  copy  of  the  docu- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  2/0 

ment  to  the  Diet  of  the  collective  states  assembled  in  Eaden, 
with  the  explanation  that  the  alliance  was  intended  neither  to 
aggrieve,  nor  attack  or  injure,  but  simply  to  protect  the  old, 
true  faith,  to  uphold  peace  and  order,  and  was  open  to  every 
Christian  government,  which  desired  to  enter  it.  At  the  same 
time,  the  Zurichers  and  Bernese  must  have  clearly  seen,  that  it 
was  a  counter-part,  and  a  suspicious  one,  of  the  Christian  Buer- 
gerrecht.  On  the  side  of  the  Reformed  only  one  imperial  city 
came  forward,  whilst  on  that  of  the  Catholics  stood  the  mightiest 
of  the  neighboring  statas,  and  that  with  articles  capable  of  a 
far  wider  application  than  any  in  the  Christian  Buergerrecht. 
They  commenced  by  declaring,  that  every  reform  in  matters  of 
faith,  yea  even  the  representation  of  the  necessity  of  such  a 
thing  was  interdicted  in  the  territories  of  the  allies,  and  that 
whosoever  "would  undertake  to  raise  up  and  form  new  lawless 
sects  among  the  people,"  he  should  be  taken  by  the  magistracy, 
supported  of  course  by  the  allies,  and  punished  "in  honor,  body 
and  life,  or  according  to  the  form  laid  down  for  that  crime." 
What  was  now  to  be  done  in  the  territories  held  by  Zurich  and 
Bern  in  common  with  the  Five  Cantons  ?  Could  the  former 
permit  the  inhabitants,  who  wished  for  reform  and  sought  aid 
for  its  introduction,  to  be  punished  by  the  vogts  (bailiffs)  per- 
haps with  fire  and  sword,  merely  because  their  religious  con- 
victions were  not  thos€  of  a  part  of  their  rulers?  Then  the 
possibility  of  a  war,  even  within  the  limits  of  the  Confederacy, 
was  expressly  provided  for,  and  in  that  event  the  Austrian 
quota  was  to  be  6,000  foot-soldiers,  400  horsemen  and  a  supply 
of  artillery.  Other  associates  beyond  the  Confederacy  had 
likewise  permission  to  join  the  alliance  and  "march  against  the 
enemy  and  rebels  within,  in  full  forc€  and  at  their  charges." 
Finally,  what  was  afterward  regarded  as  an  act  of  special  injustice 
to  the  cities  of  Zurich  and  Bern  and  the  chi^f  cause  of  the  un- 
hapy  turn  of  the  religious  war,  the  prohibition  of  the  necessaries 


2<6  LIFE    OF    ZW1\(!LI. 

of  life  was  made  also  a  principle  of  this  alliance^  a  lawful  mode 
of  fighting,  and  preferred  and  recommended  in  case  strife  should 
break  out. 

As  soon  as  the  two  cities  had  received  certain  information 
that  the  alliance  was  concluded,  before  the  documents  were  yet 
delivered  to  the  Diet  by  King  Ferdinand,  they  instituted  a 
convention  of  the  collective  cantons,  not  embraced  in  the  alli- 
ance. All,  with  the  exception  of  Freiburg,  were  present  at  it. 
A  resolution  was  now  passed  to  send  an  embassy  to  Luzern  and 
into  the  Five  Cantons,  praying  for  the  abandonment  of  a  con- 
nection, which  would  necessarily  shake  the  Confederacy  to  its 
very  foundations.  This  embassy  of  the  seven  states  was  joined 
by  delegates  from  the  allied  cities  of  St.  Gall,  Chur,  Muehl- 
hausen  and  Biel. 

But  the  animosity  of  the  parties  had  already  grown  to  such 
a  height  that  little  was  to  be  hoped  for  from  conciliatory  meas- 
ures. Still  many  were  found  on  both  sides,  who  continued  to 
favor  peaceful  counsels  and  desire  a  dispassionate,  and,  above 
all,  a  national  discussion  of  the  questions  at  issue.  Some 
months  previous  to  this,  the  Council  at  Zug  had  written  to 
that  of  Zurich :  They  were  not  willing  to  believe  in  the  rumor 
of  hostile  intentions  against  the  Zurichers  and  designs  of  pil- 
lage among  the  peasantry  on  the  further  side  of  Lake  Zurich: 
then  the  letter  proceeds — "for  we  have  observed  with  great 
pleasure,  what  friendly  intercourse  exists  between  our  people 
and  yours,  who  lie  together  on  the  borders.  So  would  we  also 
act  toward  you,  and  spare  neither  day  nor  night  to  bring  about 
peace,  reconciliation  and  unity."  Bern  discovered  a  similar 
kind  disposition  among  her  Catholic  neighbors  in  Entlebuch 
*^ Every  day" — it  was  written  to  the  bailiff  and  commons  of 
that  place — "the  people  of  the  Emmenthal  speak  of  the  friendly 
manner  in  which  you  have  behaved  toward  them,  and  how  you 
lately  cast  into  prison  one  who  defamed  us.     For  this,  accept 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXOLI.  277 

our  hearty  thanks.  And  although  much  may  have  been  said  to 
you,  how  we  perhaps  intended  to  compel  you  or  others  to  embrace 
the  new  faith,  as  it  is  called,  we  freely  declare  that  we  never 
thought  of  such  a  thing,  and  would  do  it  on  no  account,  for  faith 
is  the  gift  of  God  alone;  but  if  any  one  would  force  us  from  our 
resolution,  we  must  defend  it,  as  those  who  are  bound  always  to 
give  an  answer  for  our  faith  according  to  the  Holy  Scripture/' 
In  Luzern  itself,  even  among  individual  members  of  the  gov- 
ernment, a  friendly  feeling  was  still  found  by  the  envoys  of 
Zurich,  who  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  were  sent  thither  to 
lay  complaints  against  Thomas  Murner.  They  wrote  from  this 
city  to  the  Council  at  Zurich:  "It  is  the  common  talk  at  Lu- 
zern that  the  peasantiy,  who  border  on  us  and  the  Bernese,  are 
so  well  content  with  their  neighbors,  that  there  is  nothing  like 
it,  and  they  say  together  that  they  will  have  no  war  with  each 
other,  but  mutually  agree  to  pledge  their  persons  and  their  ser- 
vices and  not  trouble  themselves  about  religion."  This  was 
also  confirmed  by  Von  Knonau,  the  Zurichan  landvogt 

Kelying  on  this  spirit,  which  still  survived,  at  least  among  a 
portion  of  the  people  even  in  the  other  Catholic  cantons,  a  full 
statement  was  drawn  up,  to  be  laid  by  envoys  before  the  Coun- 
cils, and  if  permitted,  before  the  general  assemblies  (Jandge- 
meinen)  of  the  Five  Cantons.  "No  doubt,"  so  it  ran,  "there 
is  still,  dear  Confederates,  many  a  good  honest  man  among  you, 
who  may  justly  consider  what  injury,  reproach  and  danger  to  us 
all  and  our  common  fatherland  must  spring  from  such  an  alliance, 
and  into  whose  hands  and  power  we  will  fall — those  namely,  who 
have  never  favored,  but  always  hated  us,  and  even  taught  their 
children  to  hate  us  from  the  cradle.  Indeed,  many  a  dwelling 
will  become  desolate,  if  they,  who  began  this,  persevere  in  their 
undertaking.  But  how  can  they  do  it,  when  we,  on  our  part, 
yet  desire  to  remain  your  true  and  faithful  Confederates;  to 
adhere  to  our  treaties  and  oaths  with  you,  and  to  prove  to  you 


2/8  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

our  friendship,  love  and  duty  without  stint  of  life  or  property  ? 
And  since  many  and  various  slanders,  about  our  two  cities  Zu- 
rich and  Bern,  have  circulated  among  you,  as  though  they  had 
made  a  special  agreement  to  arm  themselves  against  you  with 
artillery,  guns,  ships,  marchings  and  other  warlike  devices, 
placed  the  bell  over  you  and  used  foul  words  to  your  disparage- 
ment; 0  do  not  lend  a  ready  ear  to  such  fables!  for  indeed 
such  a  thing  has  never  entered  our  heart  or  mind,  much  less 
have  we  ever  attempted  to  do  it." 

The  reception  of  the  embassy  was  of  a  more  friendly  char- 
acter in  Schwyz,  and  that  before  a  full  meeting  of  the  general 
assembly.  They  heard  the  message  calmly.  A  written  answer 
was  promised  and  given  not  without  cordiality.  This,  however, 
may  have  been  partly  due  to  the  secretary. 

The  event  in  Zug  was  not  quite  so  peaceful.  Open  discord 
reigned  among  the  counselors,  a  majority  of  whom  were  zeal- 
ous advocates  of  the  alliance.  Admission  to  the  general  as- 
sembly (Jandsgemeine)  was  not  granted  to  the  deputies.  We 
are  told  in  their  report :  "They  pretended  they  had  an  excitable 
population,  and  were  concerned  lest  our  presence  would  create 
great  confusion ;  for  they  were  much  more  passionate  and  in- 
tolerant in  the  assemblies  than  the  councils."  In  Altorf  a 
difference  was  made  between  Zurich  and  Bern;  between  the 
decided  cantons  and  those  that  were  more  accommodating. — 
The  former  were  thanked ;  the  latter,  and  Zurich  especially, 
were  charged  with  interfering  in  matters  of  faith,  where  they 
had  no  business  so  to  do.  Of  the  new  faith,  they  said  :  "  Would 
to  God  it  were  buried  !"  Then  an  attempt  was  made,  as  had 
been  done  before  by  Schwyz,  to  maintain  it  as  a  principle  in 
the  government  of  the  Common  Territories,  that  even  in  eccle- 
siastical affairs  the  majority  of  votes  among  the  ruling  cantons 
should  decide.  Of  all  the  points  at  issue  this  was  the  most 
difficult.     Over  it  the    strife  continually   broke  out   anew. — 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  279 

Proudly  and  piously  spoke  the  Luzerners :  They  would  follow 
their  forefathers  in  everything,  in  adherence  to  the  Federal 
Compact,  and  in  love,  but  only  when  it  did  not  deviate  from 
the  faith.     Seditious  persons  now  try  to  undermine  thi.s,  as 
once  the  serpent  sneaked  around  our  first  parents  in  Paradi^>e. 
From  such  poison  they  would  preserve  tjieir  children  and  chil- 
dren's children.     They  had  been  prompted  to  do  what  they 
now  did,  in  the  face  of  censure,  by  the  intrigues,  embassies  and 
negotiations  of  other  cantons  among  themselves,  in  the  territo- 
ries as  well  as  with  foreigners,  the  defiance  with  which  their 
just  complaints  had  been  met  and  the  arming  of  the  Zurichers. 
In  Obwalden  a  very  hostile  disposition  at  last  revealed  itself. 
Here  a  bitterness  of  spirit  had  been  left  behind  by  the  unsuc- 
cessful inroad  into  the  Haslithal,  which  was  essentially  increased 
by  the  claims  of  Bern  for  indemnification,  the  sojourn  of  fugi- 
tive Oberlanders  and  the  execution  of  Hans  im  Sand,  who  had 
enjoyed  special  favor  in  Obwalden.     With  all  their  efforts  the 
mediating  cantons  had  not  yet  been  able  to  restore  peace,  but 
only  to  prevent  the  outbreak  of  a  second  war.     The  deputies 
of  Obwalden  and  those  of  the  Eeformed  cities  still  gave  each 
other  short  words  and  exchanged  sullen  looks,  when  they  met 
at  the  Federal  Diet.     But  in  Snrnen  the  most  unfriendly  re- 
ception awaited  the  embassy  of  the  Confederates.     Only  the 
envoys  of  those  cantons,  which  had  not  yet  spoken  out  decidedly 
for  the  Preformation,  were  treated  with  a  certain  moderation, 
and  notified  that  the  sharp  language,  which  must  be  used,  had 
but  a  partial  reference  to  them.     Then  the  Federal  Compact 
was  revoked  with  all  apostates  from  the  true  faith,  and  pity  ex- 
pressed that  it  had  not  been  done  before.     They  and  the  other 
Forest  Cantons  were  the  true,  old  Confederates,  they  had  won 
the  prize  of  liberty,  they  had  admitted  the  rest  of  the  cantons 
into  the  Confederacy.     ^Yliy  should  these  now  wish  to  be  their 
masters  ?    But  the  Emperor,  Austria,  France,  Savoy  and  Waliis 


280  LIFE    OF   ZWIXGLI. 

(  Vulais)  will  indeed  help  them  to  prevent  it.  A  written  answer 
was  refused.  On  the  other  hand  they  got  a  sight  of  the  escutch- 
eons of  Zurich,  Bern  and  Basel  painted  on  a  gallows  in  the 
liouse  of  the  secretary  of  state  (JaiKlschreiher)  and  when  they 
complained  of  it,  the  excuse  was,  it  meant  nothing, — a  foolish 
fellow  had  daubed  it  there. 

Great  was  the  exasperation  at  this  news,  particularly  in  Zu- 
rich. Now  openly  and  earnestly  they  set  about  arming  them- 
selves, refused  peace  beforehand  without  the  humiliation  of  Ob- 
walden,  and  called  upon  Bern  by  letters  and  an  embassy  not  to 
make  the  least  abatement  in  its  unsettled  grievances  against  that 
district,  but  rather  to  insist  with  redoubled  zeal  on  satisfaction 
and  the  fullest  indemnity.  Indeed,  Zwingli  wished  to  go  yet 
further.  He  had  expressly  desired,  in  the  Privy  Council,  by 
which  all  the  more  important  business  of  state  was  again  dis- 
posed of,  that  no  peace  would  be  concluded  with  Obwaldeu, 
if  she  would  not  renounce  all  pensions,  abandon  the  alliance 
with  Austria  and  give  up  all  the  bailiwicks  for  a  term  of  office. 
But  Bern  was  by  no  means  so  ready  for  war.  In  the  Council, 
jealousy  or  mere  political  shyness  of  the  often  hasty  interference 
of  Zurich,  appears  to  have  given  new  animation  to  the  party 
opposed  to  her.  ''We  are,"  wrote  Haller  to  Zwingli,  ''as  un- 
sound as  ever  in  our  government;  and  though  we  now  at 
Easter  possess  the  Small  and  Great  Councils,  yet  we  are  fearful 
that  nothing  good  will  be  done  here,  because  all  those,  who 
have  hitherto  shown  themselves  hostile  to  the  word  of  God, 
are  returning  to  power,  and  if  that  happen,  then  you  may  ex- 
pect nothing  else  from  us,  than  that  uothiug  good  will  be  un- 
dertaken." Under  seal  of  the  strictest  silence  he  communicated 
to  him  the  faci,  that  in  eight  days  at  furthest  no  more  than  a  crown 
would  be  found  remaining  in  the  public  treasury.  "  If  the  Ober- 
,  landers  knew  this/*  he  added,  "  do  you  suppose  they  would 
leave  us  unmolested?"     It  appears  also,  when  Zm-ich  became 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  281 

still  more  urgent,  and  earnestly  declared  she  would  not  suffer 
it,  but  prevent  it  by  force  of  arms,  if  necessary,  that  the  new 
landvogt  of  Baden,  an  Unterwaldner,  entered  the  city  on  horse- 
back about  the  time  of  the  election  of  public  officers,  and  an 
embassy  from  Bern  with  prayers  for  more  peaceful  deliberation 
and  more  moderate  councils,  uttered  the  assurance  that  she  was 
less  inclined  than  ever  to  such  a  course.  "  In  the  opinion  of  my 
Lords,"  said  its  spokesman,  "it  would  be  better  yet  to  prevent 
by  friendliness  an  unpleasant  issue.  They  are  not  willing  to 
begin  war  before  they  know  more  certainly  the  disposition  of 
their  people,  who  are  ready  for  an  outbreak,  now  when  the  sun 
shines,  but  when  it  rains,  their  courage  falls.  A  part  of  our 
peasantry  have  concluded  a  formal  treaty  with  their  neighbors 
of  Luzern  not  to  injure  one  another.  We  would  not  compel 
them  to  do  so.  You  know  very  well  that  the  Word  of  God  en- 
joins nothing  else  but  peace  and  quiet.  True,  dear  Confederates 
and  Christian  townsmen  of  Zurich,  you  yourselves  at  first  de- 
sired to  accomplish  everythins:  by  kindness.  Indeed,  faith  can- 
not be  administered  at  the  point  of  the  spear  and  halberd.  And 
then  remember,  the  Emperor  has  not  so  much  to  do,  that  if  we 
attempt  anything,  he  cannot  march  out  against  us.  Then  we 
have  the  Wallisers  (people  of  the  canton  of  Valais)  with  us, 
who  are  waiting,  and  if  we  would  undertake  anything  with  the 
Confederates,  they  would  march  homo  again  in  an  hour,  even 
if  they  had  to  leave  their  bedsj  and  who  could  hinder  them? 
Lastly,  there  is  the  negotiation  with  the  Duke  of  Savoy  not  yet 
settled,^nd  we  know  not  where  we  are.  Therefore,  we  pray 
you,  for  the  sake  of  Christ's  passion,  not  to  be  so  violent." 

But  this  language  availed  nothing;  for  on  the  same  day 
dreadful  tidings  arrived.  Jacob  Kaiser,  surnamed  the  Lock- 
smith of  Utznaeh,  the  place  of  his  birth,  had  a  benefice  and  set- 
lement  given  him  at  Neftcnbach,  in  the  canton  of  Zurich. 
Now  he  received  a  call  as  a  preacher  to  Oberkirch,  in  Gaster. 


282  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Before  he  resigned  his  former  charge,  he  sometimes  visited  his 
new  parish.  Being  much  hated  by  the  Schwjzers,  because 
when  pastor  at  the  Ufnau  he  had  declared  himself  strongly  op- 
posed to  image-worship,  the  bailiff  (t'O-/^)  in  Utzuach,  which  was 
under  the  dominion  of  Schwyz  and  Glarus,  caused  him  to  be 
apprehended,  as  he  journeyed  through,  and  brought  to  Schwyz.* 
This  was  done  in  pursuance  of  an  order,  which  all  the  bailiffs 
of  the  Five  Cantons  had  received,  to  keep  an  eye  on  innovating 
preachers  in  the  Territories,  and  seize  them,  and  hand  them 
over  to  justice.  Like  an  earlier  victim  in  Schwyz,  another  in 
the  Thurgau,  and  three  preachers  delivered  to  the  Bishop  at 
Moersburg,  by  Catholic  bailiffs  of  that  place,  Kaiser  was  con- 
devnncd  to  die  at  the  str.ke.  In  vain  did  Zurich  intercede  for 
him;  in  vain  did  she  write  more  earnest  letters;  in  vain  did 
she  send  the  treasurer  Edlebach  to  Schwyz.  On  the  day  of  his 
execution  the  Schwyzers  answered  :  "  The  territory  of  Utzuach 
belongs  not  to  you  it  is  a  property  bought  by  us  and  our  Con- 
federates of  Glarus.  For  what  we  do  there  you  have  no  right 
to  call  us  to  account.  And  if  the  parson  is  so  dear  to  you  as 
you  say  in  your  letter,  then  you  should  have  kept  him  at  home, 
and  not  suffered  him  to  come  among  our  people.  This  would 
have  been  most  agreeable  to  us,  and  certainly  much  better  for 
him."  Such  scorn  and  the  flames  of  the  faggot  were  decisive. 
War  was  determined  on. 

•^'  So  it  is  expressed  in  the  verbal  process  of  the  Privy  Council ;  that 
he  was  once  pastor  at  Schwerzenbach  in  Greifensee,  Bullinger  informs 
us.  * 


CHAPTER    SEVENTH. 


FIBST  CAMPAIGN.      ZWINGLI   AND   LUTHEB. 


fWO  primal  forces  live  and  move  in 
man,  the  one  more  in  tliis  individ- 
ual, the  other  more  in  that  one ; 
they  both  spring  from  above  :  Feel- 
kr  ^^^^  , ,.  .  ^j     lIs  ing  and  Understanding.     Original, 

f'^^W^^  ^^  childlike  Feeling  is  the  inner  law; 

.  ,^.,>....^-  ,  ,1!^  ^^^  i^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^"^^  itaeU.  The 
Iwakcning  Understanding  seeks  the  law,  but  finds  it 
f^  ;_  .f  not;  for  around  them  and  between  them  settle  the 
1^;'  I  mist  of  earth,  the  smoke  and  vapors  of  passion. 

I  Power  is  needed  to  work  their  way  up  out  of  the 
''  mist;  a  celestial  sun  to   scatter  it.     That   sun   is 
I  Love.     In  Love,  as  well  as  in  Power,  God  has  re- 
,  vcaled  himself.     Ouly  in  the  loving  act,  in  revela- 
._  I  tion,   are  Feeling  and  Understanding   able  to  find 

S^^Sr,  to  understand  each  other,  and  then  also  first  to  un- 
derstand  themselves.  Now,  and  in  this  way  alone,  docs  growth 
in  true  knowledge  begin.  With  it  disunion,  discord  is  no 
longer  possible;  all  discord,  even  that  which  is  internal,  springs 
from  want  of  knowledge.  The  error  is  most  lamentable,  when 
Feeling  fears  the  Understanding,  and  the  Understanding  hates 
Feeling.  This  it  is,  which  can  lead  to  war  for  religion.  No 
war  for  religicm  is  permitted  to  end  with  the  overthrow  of  one 
283 


28-1  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

of  these.  God  will  not  have  it  so;  for  he  has  created  Feeling 
and  Understanding  as  immortal,  mutually  completing  sisters. 
Did  Zwingli  not  know  this?  "Was  he  perchance  a  man  of  a 
one-sided  understanding,  imprisoned  in  mist,  who  sought 
knowledge  in  his  own  strength,  but  for  this  very  reason  was 
never  able  to  discover  the  truth  ?  Did  he  desire  to  subject  Feel- 
ing to  the  Understanding,  to  subdue  faith  to  the  yoke  of  the 
letter — of  the  letter,  which  men  invented  to  express  their 
thoughts,  whilst  the  Spirit,  who  proceeds  from  the  Father, 
does  not  reveal  himself  in  ivords  made  of  letters,  but  in  the 
Word  of  Love,  the  loving  act  ?  They  tried  it,  who  came  after 
him,  who  were  not  able  to  comprehend  him;  but  they  have 
been  shamefully  wrecked  with  their  ever  swelling  formulas  of 
confession.  The  church  of  Zurich  under  Zwingli,  and  then 
under  the  antistes  Klingler  (1688-1713) — what  a  sad  con- 
trast !     Yet  here  is  not  the  place  to  speak  of  it. 

Faith,  that  feeling  of  the  Divine  will,  of  the  Divine  revela- 
tion, transformed  into  knowledge,  had  struck  its  roots  as  deep 
into  the  nature  of  Zwingli  as  into  that  of  Luther.  Who  can 
doubt  it,  when  he  reads  thus  in  his  Explanation  of  the  Chris- 
tian Faith,  as  preached  by  him,  which  in  the  year  of  his  death 
was  dedicated  to  the  King  of  France :  "  Faith  must  be  the 
source  of  our  works.  If  it  go  before,  then  the  work  is  accept- 
able to  God.  If  it  be  wanting,  then  all  that  is  done,  is  false, 
and  hence  not  only  displeasing  to  God,  but  an  abomination. 
Therefore  Paul  says :  "  Everything,  which  is  not  of  faith  is 
sin."  Now  faith  comes  only  from  the  Spirit  of  God;  hence 
they,  who  have  faith,  look  to  the  will  of  God  as  to  a  perfect 
rule.  For  this  reason,  not  only  those  works,  which  are  done 
contrary  to  the  law  of  God,  are  blameable,  but  those  also  which 
are  done  without  regard  to  it.  Whatever  is  done  thus  without 
the  law,  I.  €.  with  no  regard  to  the  Word  and  will  of  God,  is 
also  not  done  of  faith;  what  is  not  done  of  faith  is  sin,  and  sin 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  285 

God  abhors.  Thus  it  comes,  that  even  if  any  one  performs  a 
work  -which  God  has  commanded,  giving  alms,  for  example,  but 
without  faith,*  such  a  work  is  not  pleasing  to  God;  for  when 
we  go  back  to  the  source  from  whence  the  almsgiving  springs, 
which  is  not  done  of  faith,  then  we  find  that  it  has  proceeded 
either  from  vain-glory,  or  a  desire  to  receive  more  in  return,  or 
from  some  other  bad  motive.  And  who  is  not  convinced  that 
S'uch  a  work  is  unacceptable  to  God?"f 

After  such  expressions  of  the  Reformer  every  one  will  be 
readily  convinced,  that  Zwingli  wished  to  create  no  controversy, 
to  achieve  no  victory  of  the  understanding,  which  only  regu- 
lates and  analyzes,  at  the  expense  of  pious  feeling.J  That  war, 
which  can  only  be  called  religious,  because  the  parties  them- 
selves very  wrongly  believed  they  served  religion  thereby,  was 
not  allowed  by  Christianity,  as  it  came  from  the  hands  of  its 
founder,  not  by  the  Church  established  by  Him,  not  by  the 
unity  of  this  Church,  unity  in  her  Master  and  Exampler  abid- 
ing yet  in  the  Gospel  and  the  hearts  of  all  true  believers.  It 
was  actually  of  a  political  more  than  of  a  religious  nature;  for 

*  "SYMcli,  according  to  the  Gospel  and  Zwingli's  views  elsewhere  un- 
folded, (see  M.  Huldr.  Zwingli's  Schriften  im  Auszug  v.  Usteri  und 
Vccglin,  Bd.  I.  Abth.  2,  S.  387,)  is  one  with  Love. 

f  For  the  German  translation  of  this  passage  from  the  Latin  of 
Zwingli,  the  author  was  indebted  to  the  above-mentioned  work  of  Usteri 
Vcegdin. 

X  All  acti-\Tity  of  the  understanding  is  in  its  nature  formal.  Hence 
in  order  to  pass  over  into  reality,  if  it  would  become  more  than  an 
exercise  of  the  mind,  which  can  be  endlessly  prolonged,  it  needs  positive 
material.  As  soon  as  it  transcends  the  positive  and  enters  the  region  of 
so-called  pure  ideas,  the  dominion  of  the  intellect,  it  runs  into  nothing, 
becomes  a  negation.  The  natural  consequence  of  this  c?o7rtm2on  of  the 
intellect,  of  which  many  now  dream,  is  the  popular  doctrine  :  "  Let  us 
eat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die.  "  To  this  the  very  wisest  leg- 
islation of  all  nations  has  given  too  little  attention. 


-8G  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

a  Church  which  exercises  temporal  authority,  whose  heads  rule 
over  land  and  people,  set  up  comjDulsory  dogmas  of  faith  and 
deliver  to  judgment  those,  who  do  not  submit  to  them,  is  also  a 
political,  a  worldly  power.  Or  ought  we  regard  the  nuncios, 
who  drive  along  in  carriages  drawn  by  four  horses,  to  be  re- 
ceived by  the  thunder  of  cannon,  as  apostles,  when  Christ  would 
send  them  forth,  staff  in  hand,  without  money,  without  change 
of  raiment? 

Proceeding  from  this  stand-point,  Zwingli  saw  in  the  war, 
which  he  himself  undoubtedly  advised,  only  a  political  conflict. 
On  the  one  side  appeared  to  him,  imbued  as  he  was  with  the 
idea  of  a  purely  spiritual  kingdom  of  God  and  Christ,  a  worldly 
power  defending  itself  not  by  the  lawful,  yea,  necessary  weapons 
of  science  and  sound  judgment,  but  by  anathemas  and  the 
flames  of  the  faggot,  and  on  the  other,  those  who  wished  to  at- 
tain and  defend  liberty,  without  which  neither  a  religion  of  the 
heart  nor  of  the  head,  nor  a  faith  matured  to  conviction  by  the 
agreement  of  both,  was  possible.  AVith  this  feeling  he  wrote 
-to  his  friend  in  Bern:  ^' The  peace,  about  which  many  now 
talk  so  much,  is  war;  the  war,  which  I  wish,  peace.  There 
can  be  no  security  either  for  the  truth,  or  her  worshippers,  till 
the  ground-pillars  of  tyranny  be  overthrown.  Do  not  lose  con- 
fidence in  me,  because  I  must  say  this.  "With  God's  help  I 
will  prove  myself  worthy  of  it."  But,  even  if  the  question, 
according  to  the  judgment  of  the  Beformer,  was  fairly  one  of 
an  external,  political  nature,  when  logically  carried  out,  it  would 
take  the  form  of  opinion  in  some,  or  of  principle  in  others. 
Yet  never  will  such  questions  be  solved  by  weapons  of  iron. 
The  blind  iron  usually  wounds  the  principle  for  which  it  was 
drawn  out,  and  its  defender  first.  "Put  up  thy  sword  in  its 
sheath,"  said  Christ  to  Peter,  "  for  they,  who  take  the  sword, 
qhall  perish  by  the  sword ;"  and  for  Zwingli  it  was  a  prophetic 
word.     Only  for  material  interests,  lying  equally  before  the  eyes 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  287 

of  all  the  world;  only  when  the  duty  of  fighting  against  the 
violation  of  national  treaties  or  human  laws,  or  else  for  uphold- 
ing them,  does  true  policy  take  up  the  sword,  and  in  this  re- 
spect the  statesmanship  of  Bern  seems  more  prudent;  yea,  moro 
in  harmony  with  the  Federal  Compact,  than  that  of  Zurich. 
But  there  are  moments  in  the  lives  of  nations,  when  prudence 
will  no  longer  avail,  and  energetic  action,  even  passionate  en- 
deavor, becomes  a  necessity.     In  such  cases  each  one  has  to 
appeal  to  his  own  conviction  of  duty,  and  his  justification  lies 
in  his  willingness  to  sacrifice  himself  thorefor.     Over  the  corpse 
of  the  noble  victim,  the  censuring  voice  of  posterity  is  silent. 
He,  who  accompanies  the  Beformer  with  undiminished  sym- 
pathy along  his  path,  which  from  this  time  forth  becomes  more 
and  more  slippery,  will  find  the  truth  of  what  has  been  said. 
The  grand  achievement,  which  he  desired,  perhaps  rather  an- 
ticipated— the  formation  of  a  strong  league  in  the  midst  of 
Europe,  controlling  extremes ;  a  league  of  concord,  and  yet  of 
the  free  developement  of  individual  members  in  their  peculiar 
customs  and  forms  of  government;  united  by  the  spiritual  bond 
of  a  common  faith,  of  a  common  submission  to  the  Gospel,  em- 
braced with  a  pure  mind  and  carried  out  in  practice;  satisfy- 
ing the  understanding  and   contenting  the  heart;  one  in  its 
aim  of  worshipping  Grod;  diverse  in  itsmode,  according  to  the 
usage  and  wants  of  the  country;  tolerating  philosophical  as 
little  as  dogmatical  dictators;  repudiating  alike  the  Propaganda 
and  the  Jesuits;  a  league  whose  members  are  not  exclusive 
like  Jews,  but  helpful  like  Christians — the  nineteenth  century 
can  see  it  realized,  if  in  its  free  presses  a  manly  openness  is 
able  to  triumph  over  wholesale  robbery  an.d  keep  down  human 
devilishness,  as  well  as  the  spirit  of  hypocrisy. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  a  secret  council  was  held  in  Zurich,  to 
consider  the  outrage  of  the  Schwyzers.  Some  wished  to  prohibit 
the  exportation  of  provisions,  others  to  revoke  the  treaties,  and 


288  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

a  third  party  to  declare  war  without  delay.  The  last  course 
was  adopted  by  the  Great  Council  on  the  3d  of  June,  and  the 
tidings  sent  to  Schwyz  in  the  following  language :  ''  Our  greet- 
ing first  1  Pious,  circumspect,  wise,  should  our  good  friends 
and  faithful,  dear  Confederates  be  !  Your  haughty  and  defiant 
letter  we  have  received  and  considered,  and  though  you  accuse 
us  therein  of  not  keeping  covenant  with  you,  we  think  we  have 
done  it  as  faithfully  and  better  than  you  have  heretofore ;  than 
you,  who  have  persecuted,  unjustly  punished,  given  into  other 
hands,  violently  and  unrighteously  dragged  beyond  the  juris- 
diction and  laws,  which  belonged  to  us  as  well  as  you,  miserably 
tortured  and  killed  many  an  honest  man  merely  for  asserting 
his  faith  and  maintaining  the  honor  of  God,  by  which  we  and 
our  people,  who  are  pious,  honest  Christians,  if  God  will,  have 
also  been  greatly  and  severely  injured,  reviled  and  shamfully 
abused,  as  to  our  honor  and  old,  praiseworthy  customs;  ill- 
treate^l  in  a  wanton  manner  without  cause,  surrounded,  beaten, 
defied,  and  a  pious  priest  under  our  protection,  whom  it  became 
us  to  save,  pounced  upon  beyond  your  jurisdiction,  carried  off 
in  a  scornful,  unjust  fashion,  before  God  and  to  our  great  dis- 
pleasure, burned  to  death  for  adhering  to  God's  Word,  since 
you  had  no  other  charge  against  him.  Because  now  you  have 
always  suffered  such  outrages  and  injuries  to  pass  by  without 
punishment,  because  you  have  despised  all  our  warnings  and 
embassies,  publicly  transgressing  in  many  instances  the  Articles 
of  Confederation,  and  because  we  see  that  no  justice  can  be 
hoped  for  from  you,  we  are  obliged,  in  order  to  rescue  and 
maintain  the  Divine  truth,  its  honor  and  ours,  to  chastise  you 
for  such  wantonness,  injustice  and  violence  with  our  own  hand, 
in  the  strength  of  God,  and  intend  also,  with  as  much  strength 
and  grace  as  God  gives  us,  to  take  vengeance  on  you  without 
mercy.  But  we  have  warned  you  of  it  and  kept  our  honor.  Thus 
you  can  understand  the  motives  of  our  action ;  you  yourselves  de- 


LIFE    OF    ZAYINGLI.  289 

sired  nothing  else,  since  you  have  provoked  us  to  this  course 
by  your  violence  and  gross  injustice."  In  consequence  of  the 
threatened  passage  of  the  bailiff  (vogt)  of  Unterwalden  that 
way  to  Baden,  Bern  was  written  to :  That  the  friendly  exhorta- 
tion to  moderate  measures  had  come  too  late.  They  had  certain 
intelligence  that  Unterwalden  intended  to  escort  her  landoogi 
to  Baden  with  an  armed  force.  Bern  must  not  permit  this  ac- 
cording to  her  own  solemn  declaration.  And  she  is  there 
fitrongly  besought  to  join  the  Zurichers,  now  promptly  rising  in 
self-defence. 

But  Bern,  for  some  time  back,  had  been  endeavoring,  prin- 
cipally through  Luzern,  to  bring  Unterwalden  into  a  more 
peaceful  humor.  She  had  not  yet  put  any  troops  under  arms, 
and  had  received  information  from  the  Five  Cantons  that  they 
too  would  not  be  the  first  to  do  it.  Hans  Edlebach,  who  was 
sent  to  Lenzburg,  to  hasten  the  march  of  the  expected  contin- 
gent, had  to  suffer  bitter  reproaches  from  the  landmgt  and  the 
Bernese  residing  there  :  Was  it  prudent  to  begin  war  during 
such  a  famine  ?  Was  it  like  a  Confederate,  not  to  suffer  the 
law  first  to  take  its  course?  Was  it  fair  dealing  toward  Bern, 
to  rise  up  against  every  warning,  and  without  giving  her  notice 
beforehand  ?  Zurich  may  now  bring  to  an  end  alone  what  she 
has  commenced  alone.  To  this  the  Zurichers  wrote  in  reply : 
''We  would  sooner  have  expected  death,  than  that  your  aid 
yhould  have  failed  us  up  to  this  time )  what  guilt  will  rest  upon 
you,  if  calamity  overtake  us  ?  "  But  Zurich  was  in  no  wise  hin- 
dered by  this  delay,  and  the  declaration  of  the  Bernese  imme- 
diately following,  that  though  they  would  now  march  out,  it 
was  only  for  the  support  of  their  ally  and  not  to  encourage  the 
war.  One  division  of  troops  wa^  sent  to  Bremgarten  and  Muri : 
another  placed  at  the  west  end  of  the  lake  to  hold  Schwyz  in 
check,  whilst  Mother  marched  under  Jacob  Werdmueller  to 
the  country  lying  around  Bappcrschwcil,  so  that  the  Toggen- 

25 


2;)0  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

burgers,  tlie  people  of  Gaster,  and  the  evangelical  portion  of 
the  Glarners  might  be  encouraged  to  join  them.  To  his  coun- 
trymen of  Toggenburg  Zwingli  was  particularly  favorable. 
"Dear  comrade/'  he  wrote  to  his  friend  Werdmueller,  '*I  hope 
the  Toggenburgers  will  not  fail,  yet  hasten  to  communicate  with 
the  town-clerk  of  Lechstensteg ;  for  a  general  assembly  to  consult 
about  affairs  was  held  on  Wednesday,  the  9th  day  of  June. 
Take  care  and  keep  the  advice  secret.  If  you  act  against  Tog- 
genburg, you  must  not  speak  of  taking  possession  of  the  coun- 
try, for  they  will  not  suffer  such  a  thing,  having  some  time 
since  made  themselves  free  by  their  military  power.''  Less 
consideration  was  shown  toward  the  Thurgau.  Lavater,  the  bail- 
iff {vogt)  of  Kyburg  received  orders  to  occupy  the  territory  for 
Zurich,  with  the  reservation  of  the  rights  of  Glarus,  and  notify 
the  inhabitants  that  the  Five  Cantons  would  be  allowed  no  share 
in  the  government  without  their  own  consent,  which  was  an 
open  violation  of  existing  treaties,  and  founded  on  the  right  of 
conquest.  The  chief  force,  consisting  of  4,000  picked  men, 
well  armed  and  provided  with  numerous  guns,  marched  under 
George  Berger  to  the  borders  of  Zug.  Berger  had  served  in 
Italy  with  honor.  He  maintained  severe  discipline  in  the 
army.  Idle  women,  who  usually  followed  the  Swiss  expeditions 
in  great  crowds,  were  not  suffered  here.  On  the  other  hand, 
in  spite  of  the  scarcity  just  then  prevailing,  an  abundant  stock 
of  provisions  was  furnished ;  a  good  spirit  prevailed  among  the 
soldiery.  It  was^a  long  time  since  Zurich  had  displayed  such 
power.  From  the  steps  of  the  senate-house  the  burgomaster 
Walder  exhorted  the  departing  troops  to  discipline  and  a  fearless 
defence.  Commander  Schmied  was  appointed  army-chaplain. 
Without  a  summons  from  the  government  Zwingli  rode  along, 
a  halberd  on  his  shoulder.  The  report  of  the  outbreak,  Zurich's 
declaration  of  war,  communicated  to  the  Four  Cantons  by 
Schwyz,  set  them  also  in  motion.     Flying  appeals  went  out  at 


LIFE   OP    ZWINGLI.  291 

the  same  time  from  Zug.  First^  volunteers  hastened  thither; 
then  came  the  militia  of  Schwyz,  of  Uri,  of  U nterwalden — the 
latter  well  armed  and  particularly  eager  for  war.  Messengers 
were  despatched  to  Waldshut  and  Feldkirch  for  Austrian  aid. 
-The  Zurichers  halted  at  Cappel.  A  declaration  of  war  was 
also  made  against  the  Five  Cantons.  It  resembled  that  against 
Schwjz,  but  with  an  additional  reference  to  the  doings  of  the 
Unterwaldners  and  to  the  Austrian  alliance.  On  the  morning 
of  the  9  th  it  was  sent  to  Zug,  and  directly  after  the  Zurich  an 
force,  strengthened  by  new  accessions,  took  up  the  line  of  march. 
They  had  not  yet  crossed  the  boundaries  of  the  canton,  when 
the  landamman  I&oYi  came  up  against  them  from  Baar.  He 
was  a  man  of  irreproachable  character,  a  leader  of  the  people  in 
his  canton,  esteemed  and  beloved  by  the  Confederates,  trained 
in  the  school  of  life,  keeping  in  view  the  wants  of  the  present, 
but  both  by  education  and  disposition  unfitted  for  scientific  and 
religious  controversy.  As  related  by  Bullinger,  who  was  an 
eye-witness,  this  man  begged  ^'  the  Lords  of  Zurich  with  tearful 
eyes;  begged  them  as  strongly  as  he  could,  for  God's  sake  and 
that  of  the  whole  Confederacy,  to  stay  quiet  where  they  were 
without  actual  operations  and  approach,  till  he  would  return 
again  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours;  for  he  had  good  hopes,  by 
the  aid  of  other  honorable,  honest  people,  who  also  were  in  a 
fair  way  to  separate,  with  the  help  of  God's  grace,  to  make  an 
honorable  peace,  which  would  redound  to  the  good  of  the  Con- 
federacy ;  besides,  great  bloodshed  would  be  avoided  and  no 
poor  widows  and  orphans  made ;  for  this,  he  trusted  in  the 
Holy  Gospel,  which  teaches  us  peace,  love  and  unity.  More- 
over., he  had  also  found  a  moderate,  friendly  opinion  in  the 
Five  Cantons,  that  it  would  be  a  great  calamity,  if  one  Confed- 
erate would  wretchedly  kill  the  other,  when  their  forefathers  so 
often  and  closely  pledged  together  their  persons,  property  and 
blood;  and  a  like  opinion  existed  here  among  those,  who  had 


292  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

suffered  mucli  pain  and  injury  in  war.  We  ought  not,  said  lie, 
grant  such  pleasure  to  the  foes  and  enemies  of  our  common 
country.  He,  therefore,  most  earnestly  plead  only  for  some 
hours  to  do  his  best  to  prevent  the  sad  dismemberment  of  the 
Confederacy. 

Discordant  views  prevailed  amongst  the  Zurichers.  Yet  the 
majority  were  won  over  by  this  true-hearted,  patriotic  speech. 
After  a  short  deliberation,  the  leaders  declared  themselves  ready 
to  halt,  and  a  courier  was  dispatched  to  Zurich  for  instructions. 
But  Zwingli  approached  the  landamman,  who  had  formerly 
been  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends  in  Glarus,  with  the  words : 
"  Dear  amman,  thou  wilt  be  obliged  to  account  to  God  for  this 
peace.  Now,  whilst  our  enemies  are  in  our  power  and  unpre- 
pared you  give  them  good  words.  Thou  believest  them,  and 
boldest  back.  Hereafter,  when  they  are  prepared,  they  will 
not  make  peace  with  us;  who  then  will  separate  us?''  /'Dear 
comrade,"  replied  the  ammair,  "  I  trust  in  God.  He  will  make 
all  right.     Act  always  for  the  best  " 

The  brief  truce,  which  now  followed,  was  diligently  used  by 
both  parties.  The  Catholics  brought  together  their  chief  force 
in  the  country  of  Baar.  Auxiliaries  from  Wallis  ( Vcdais), 
Livinen  and  the  valley  of  the  Esch  joined  them.  Their  little 
army  swelled  to  eight  thousand.  That  of  the  Zurichers  was 
strengthened  from  the  Thurgau  and  St.  Gall.  A  third  just  as 
important,  that  of  the  Bernese  aided  by  Basel,  Biel  and  Muehl- 
hausen,  under  the  schultheiss  Von  Diesbach,  had  reached 
Bremgarten.  Full  thirty  thousand  men,  unlike  in  view  and 
disposition,  stood  under  arms.  The  Confederate  policy  was  in 
the  camp  of  the  Bernese.  "We  will  attack  the  aggressor," 
said  they,  "  wherever  he  comes  from.  We  will  suffer  no  war, 
till  all  lawful  remedies  are  exhausted."  They  had  written  the 
same  to  Zurich,  where  hurrying  envoys  from  Glarus,  Appenzel, 
the  Three  Cantons,  Solothurn  and  Freiburg  arrived  every  hour 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLT.  293 

•with  plans  for  a  settlement  of  the  difficulties.  Bern  had  also 
convoked  at  Aarau,  a  Diet  for  the  whole  Confederacy.  Even 
from  Strasburg  the  Mayor  Sturm  had  come  as  a  mediator.  A 
spirit  of  peace  began  to  pervade  the  opposing  camps.  Besides, 
many  were  anxious  to  return  home.  They  thought  of  their 
agricultural  labor,  which  in  the  month  of  June  was  particularly 
needful.  The  necessity  for  shedding  blood  had  not  yet  stirred 
the  feelings  of  the  multitude.  Neighbors  of  the  diiferent  con- 
fessions still  held  intercourse  with  each  other.  The  out-posts 
had  agreed  not  to  injure  each  other 3  one  party  looked  on  the 
peaceful  sports  of  the  other  at  the  ring  and  the  hurling  of 
stones.  That  beautiful  feature  of  old  Swiss  cordiality  was 
manifested,  when  milk  was  brought  from  one  side,  bread  from 
the  other,  and  the  hostile  warriors,  with  jokes  over  the  limits 
to  be  guarded,  ate  the  common  food  from  one  vessel.  It  drew 
an  exclamation  of  surprise  from  the  Mayor  of  Strasburg,  who 
witnessed  it. 

According  to  old  usage,  when  the  militia  had  marched  out, 
the  Council  of  Zurich  gave  over  to  the  commons-at-war  {kricgs- 
gemeine)  the  instruction  of  the  negotiators  at  the  Diet  in  Aarau. 
There  was  one  man  particularly  to  whom  this  was  little  pleasing, 
who  apprehended  evil  results — Illric  Zwingli.  Should  all  the 
fruits  of  his  earnest  endeavor,  all  the  hopes  for  evangelical  free- 
dom, involved  in  this  breach,  be  lost?  Tie  feared  a  too  ready 
compliance.  "  Gracious,  loving  Lords,'*  he  wrote,  "our  messen- 
gers come  in  again  this  moment.  I  observe  indeed  how  the 
matter  stands.  They  now  give  good  words,  and  pray  and  beg. 
But  do  not  be  misled,  and  regard  no  wry  faces,  but  command 
us,  beforehand,  to  act  with  earnestness,  not  to  surrender  our 
advantage,  but  to  accept  only  a  solid  peace ;  for  no  one  can  give 
better  words  than  these  people,  and  when  we  are  out  of  the  field, 
they  will  return  in  one  month  and  attack  us.  For  God's  sake 
act  boldly.    By  my  life,  I  desire  not  to  mislead  you,  nor  give  way 


294  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  ^ 

myself.  One  cannot  write  everything.  Stand  fast  in  God. 
Yield  nothing  to  wry  faces,  till  the  right  is  established.  God 
be  with  you.     In  haste,  in  haste ! " 

After  this  he  did  his  utmost  in  the  camp  at  Cappcl,  so  that 
the  treasurer,  Rudolph  Thumeisen,  the  deputy  to  Aarau,  was 
instructed  to  demand  positively,  liberty  to  preach  the  Gospel 
everywhere  in  the  Territories,  the  abrogation  of  the  Alliance 
with  Austria,  the  abjuration  of  all  pensions  and  the  punishment 
of  those,  who  would  propogate  and  dispense  them,  the  costs  of 
the  war  and  indemnification  for  the  children  of  the  martyred 
Jacob  Kaiser.  Meanwhile  in  Aarau  the  continuance  of  the 
armistice  only  was  determined  on,  and  the  porosecution  of  the 
negotiations  by  arbitrators  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camps  trans- 
ferred to  Steinhausen,  in  the  canton  of  Zug. 

It  had  been  previously  said,  that  the  commons-at-war  (lands' 
gemeinden)  should  themselves  hear  the  complaints  and  arguments 
of  the  opposing  parties.  The  leaders  and  deputies  of  the  army 
of  the  Five  Cantons  made  the  beginning  in  the  camp  of  the  Zn- 
riehers.  An  eye-witness,  Kesslcr  of  St.  Gall,  has  given  the  fol- 
lowing graphic  picture  ot  the  event.  It  is  here  told  in  his  own 
words:  "Now,  at  the  request  of  the  Five  Cantons,  it  was  ap- 
pointed, that,  on  the  next  Monday,  a  committee  should  come  over 
from  their  camp  into  ours,  in  order  to  interrogate  each  other  as 
well  as  the  friendly  arbitrators.  So  a  high  scaffolding  was  raised 
upon  barrels  in  the  field  before  Cappel.  On  this  was  placed 
the  banner  of  Zurich,  with  all  the  ensigns  and  officers  then 
encamped  at  Cappel,  and  around  the  scafiblding  stood  the  com- 
mon soldiers.  After  the  committee  of  the  Five  Cantons,  thirty 
in  number,  had  been  conducted  over  by  the  Zurichau  trumpe- 
ter, the  umpires  approached;  one  rose  after  the  other  on  the 
scaffold,  speaking  to  the  array  and  exhorting  them  to  hold  fast 
the  purpose  to  submit  on  both  sides  to  a  friendly  and  moderate 
treaty  of  peace,  seeing  not  only  the  sorrow,  the  misery  and  the 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  295 

great  damage  and  ruin,  that  must  accrue  to  us  from  this  present 
mi.suiiJerstanding,  if  it  should  come  to  the  shedding  of  blood; 
but  on  the  other  hand,  also,  the  great  joy  that  would  arise 
among  our  foreign  hereditary  enemies;  and  that  nothing  else 
can  at  last  result  from  it,  but  that  we,  weakened  by  our  own 
discord,  will  be  the  more  easily  conquered  and  ruled  by  those 
enemies,  for  whom,  when  united,  we  were  always  strong  enough. 
Besides,  the  great  dislike  of  the  people  of  Germany  and  other 
countries,  during  our  campaigns  there,  must  be  considered;  and 
if  our  poor  widows  and  orphans  are  left,  what  scanty  crusts  of 
bread  will  be  doled  out  to  them.  Therefore,  we  implore  you, 
for  God's  sake,  to  make  peace  with  each  other  like  faithful, 
pious  Confederates,  who,  in  times  past,  have  fought  and  suffered 
so  much  together.  Hereupon,  Captain  Escher  of  Zurich  stood 
forward,  and  disclosed  in  general  and  special  to  the  deputies 
of  the  Five  Cantons  the  cause  and  articles  of  the  war  now 
declared  against  them,  reviewing  with  sharp  words  their  un- 
kind, shameful  and  scandalous  doings  so  long  persisted  in,  but 
which  could  henceforth  be  no  longer  endured  or  suffered,  con- 
sistently with  justice  an-d  honor.  After  this,  the  deputies,  gen- 
tlemen and  captains  of  the  Five  Cantons  rose  up ;  among  the 
first  schultUeiss  Hug  of  Luzern;  and  each  gave  answer  to  the 
articles  and  the  accusation  touching  his  Lords.  Nevertheless, 
something  should  be  done.  They  desired  that  every  effort 
should  be  made  to  bring  about  a  lasting  peace,  lest,  as  was  be- 
fore said  by  the  arbitrators,  we  might  be  compelled  to  murder 
and  destroy  each  other.  But  so  far  as  might  be,  they  desired 
a  just  settlement,  promising  to  abide  thereby.  Then  it  was 
proposed  to  retire  a  little  out  of  the  crowd  to  a  particular  spot; 
and  the  captains  and  the  commons  conferred  among  themselves, 
and  decided  that  a  committee  of  the  same  number  as  theirs 
should  be  sent  into  the  camp  of  the  Five  Cantons,  to  disclose 
to  the  common  soldiery,  the  business,  which  had  not  yet  reached 


296  '  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

them.  There  were  present  also  IMaster  Ulric  Zwingli,  Master 
Conrad  Schmied,  the  Commander,  chosen  preachers  from  the 
city  and  canton  of  Zurich,  men  wholly  inclined  to  purge  the 
Confederacy  from  all  unfairness,  unrighteousness  and  pride, 
and  restore  piety  and  honor.  When  his  turn  came.  Master 
Ulric  spake  very  plainly,  that  they  who  were  there  might  un- 
derstand, declaring  that  the  cold  apology  of  the  Five  Cantons 
and  their  appeals  to  the  law,  which  before  this  had  been  little 
regarded  by  them,  reminded  him  of  condemned  criminals,  who 
when  led  to  punishment  cried  out  for  justice,  in  order  to  pro- 
long their  lives.  Then  he  spoke  of  the  sin,  the  danger  and  the 
injury  springing  from  the  pensions,  undeservedly  taken  from 
kings  and  princes,  countries  and  people,  and  addressed  the 
aforementioned  schultheiss,  Hug,  by  name  :  It  is  well  known 
what  he  is  and  has  been  for  years,  and  whence  he  has  been 
enriched  by  so  many  thousand  crowns ;  they  are  earnestly  ex- 
horted to  put  it  away,  else  peace,  quiet  and  unity  would  never 
be  seen  in  the  Confederacy." 

With  milder  words  Escher  sought  to  allay  the  rising  discou- 
tent  of  the  deputies  of  the  Five  Cantons,  who,  after  a  notiee 
that  the  leaders  of  the  Zurichers  should  remember  to  appear 
also  before  their  commons-at-war,  withdrew  and  were  honorably 
conducted  out  of  the  camp. 

Rain  in  torrents,  as  it  fell  abundantly  during  this  summer, 
poured  down  on  the  following  day,  the  fifteenth  of  June.  The 
overflowing  of  the  Loretz  prevented  any  meeting.  On  the 
sixteenth,  with  clearing  skies  and  glad  sunshine,  fifteen  of  the 
most  prominent  Zurichers,  to  whom  several  people  from  the 
country  were  added,  rode  over  into  the  camp  of  the  Five 
Cantons. 

Here  also,  as  with  the  Zurichers,  the  reception  took  placo 
amid  warlike  display  and  the  thunder  of  cannon.  The  leaders 
afiirmed  that  more  than  12,000  men  were  under  arms.     They 


LIFE    OF    ZWINOLI.  297 

stood  well  drawn  up ;  defiance  in  every  face.  The  Unterwald- 
ners  were  particularly  well  armed,  partly  witli  bows  and  partly 
in  heavy  coats  of  mail.  Hans  Escher  opened  the  discussion, 
glad  of  the  opportunity  to  represent  in  its  true  light  the  misap- 
prehended cause  of  Zurich  before  so  large  an  assembly  of  Con- 
federates. First,  he  read  aloud  a  detailed  list  of  grievances, 
published  by  the  government  itself.  "All  this/'  he  then  con- 
tinued, "we  would  have  borne  for  the  sake  of  the  common 
peace,  but  when  your  rulers  concluded  an  alliance  with  yon 
power,  which  your  own  forefathers  have  always  considered  their 
most  dangerous  enemy,  and  which  is  now,  perhaps  more  than 
ever,  ours,  how  could  we  keep  quiet  any  longer?  Still,  we 
were  not  the  first  to  march  out.  The  Unterwalduers  took  up 
arms  before,  to  place  their  vogt  in  Baden.  Our  troops,  when 
they  came  to  Muri,  found  a  meal  prepared  for  them.  Yet  we 
do  not  wish  to  deal  in  mutual  crimination  to  our  own  injuiy, 
but  rather  to  favor  the  liberty,  which  we  have  inherited  from 
our  fathers,  or  what  is  the  welfare  of  all,  according  to  the 
Gospel  to  which  we  adhere,  the  restoration  of  the  old  Con- 
federate pledges,  which,  as  we  ask  them  from  you,  we  are  also 
willing  and  ready  to  give  to  our  Confederates."  The  country- 
people  supported  the  speech  of  the  citizen.  Upon  many  of  the 
hearers  the  impression  was  evidently  good,  for  a  general  belief 
prevailed  among  the  Catholics,  that  the  country-people  of  Zurich 
had  only  submitted  to  the  Eeformation  with  reluctance.  Others, 
on  the  contrary,  thought  the  grievances  in  the  paper  of  the 
Zurich  Council  exaggerated.  "When  have  we  refused  you 
justice?'^  said  they.  "How  often  have  you  appealed  to  us  in 
vain?" — "Yes,"  rejoined  the  treasurer  Funk,  an  active  young 
man,  and  one  of  Zwingli's  warmest  adherents — "we  know  your 
ways  of  doing  justice.  That  unhappy  pastor  made  an  appeal 
and  you  referred  him  to  the  executioner."  The  rash  word 
was  spoken.     "Funk!  you  had  better  been  silent,"  one  of  his 


298  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

companions  called  out  to  him.  A  fearful  tumult  arose;,  the 
troops  put  themselves  in  motion.  The  more  considerate  warned 
the  Zurichers  to  retire  without  delay,  and  secured  them  by  a 
detailed  escort. 

The  negotiation  continued  in  Steinhausen  and  the  Zurichan 
camp.  The  issue  lay  in  the  hands  of  the  Bernese.  Without 
them,  Zurich  was  no  longer  able  to  carry  on  the  war.  The 
favorable  moment  had  passed.  Time  had  been  given  to  the 
Five  Cantons  to  gather  and  strengthen  their  army.  The  sight 
of  their  collective  force  raised  the  courage  of  individuals.  In 
numbers  they  were  not  inferior  to  the  Zurichers;  surpassed 
them  rather.  And  then,  they  beheld  an  abundance  of  provisions 
in  the  Zurichan  camp,  whilst  in  theirs,  and  at  home  in  their 
vallies,  want  and  famine  prevailed,  on  account  of  the  prohibition 
against  importation.  The  assurance  of  this  accessible  and  need- 
ful booty  whetted  their  thirst  for  combat.  To  know  that  the 
power  of  deciding  lay  with  the  present  leaders  of  the  Bernese, 
made  the  prospect  intolerable  to  Zwingli.  He  found  in  the 
schuJtheiss  Diesbach,  their  general,  a  lukewarm  friend  of  the 
Beformation,  and  in  him  and  most  of  the  others  advocates,  rather 
than  opposers,  of  pension-taking.  The  latter  practice  found 
such  special  favor  among  the  Bernese  Counsellors,  that  even 
Nicholas  Manuel,  otherwise  one  of  the  most  powerful  heads 
of  the  Evangelical  party,  declared  before  the  assembly  of  the 
Zurichan  leaders  in  the  camp  at  Cappel,  that  Zwingli's  de- 
mand on  the  Five  Cantons  for  the  abolition  of  pensions  need 
expect  no  support  from  Bern.  This  drew  angry  words  from 
the  Bcformer:  ^'Well  then!  we  can  put  the  question  to  the 
whole  commons-at-war;  we  can  also  send  an  embassy  to  Bern 
herself,  to  learn  how  the  city  and  canton  think.  I  know  it  and 
can  prove  it  by  writings,  which  I  promise  to  produce,  that  that 
people,  as  well  as  ours,  abhor  pensions.  Who  maintain  them? 
Some  great  families,  who  live  by  them." — ''It  will  come  to 


LIFE  OF  zwiN(;Lr.  299 

this,"  replied  Hans  Esclier,  "we  must  first  put  questions  every- 
where; the  councils  of  leaders  are  no  longer  of  any  account; 
one  has  just  as  much  to  say  as  another;  squire  and  knight, 
common  man  and  captain ;  now,  let  all,  for  my  sake,  cry  out  at 
once;  then  at  least  we  will  be  done  with  the  matter;  if  we 
ourselves  cannot  strike  because  of  discord,  then  let  the  others 
strike."  Zwingli  confessed  that  he  had  gone  too  far,  and 
smothered  his  chagrin.  He  had  hoped  for  a  victory  of  princi- 
ples, but  now  saw  only  the  possibility  of  a  temporary  com- 
promise, achieved  by  political  arts.  The  men,  from  whom  there 
was  nothing  to  hope  in  support  of  the  Reformation,  in  one  can- 
ton, and  everything  to  fear  in  regard  to  the  others,  stood  at  the 
helm  and  saw  their  power  continually  secured  by  foreign  influ- 
ence and  foreign  gold.  He  beheld  the  times  coming,  when  the 
old  Adam  would  again  awaken  in  Zurich  herself.  Earlier  or 
later,  the  seed  sown,  so  he  foreboded,  must  be  again  stifled  and 
the  tender  fruit  sunk  under  the  rank  growth  of  sprouting 
weeds. 

Meanwhile  the  arbitrators  in  Steinhausen  did  all  they  could, 
and  when  Bern  used  just  as  decided  language  against  the  Five 
Cantons  as  against  Zurich,  then  a  treaty  was  formed,  with 
which  the  statesmen  of  the  latter  canton  said  they  would  be 
satisfied.  First  of  all,  the  Territories  were  to  be  left  to  their 
own  free  choice  in  matters  of  religion ;  to  declare  for  one  sys- 
tem or  the.  other.  The  alliance  with  King  Ferdinand  was  to 
be  abolished  and  its  documents  annihilated.  Doctor  Murner 
was  to  be  arraigned  before  the  Confederates  in  Baden,  to  an- 
swer for  defamation  of  Zurich  and  Bern.  These  were  the 
chief  articles.  What  the  Five  Cantons  should  pay  as  costs  of 
the  war,  and  indemnification  to  the  surviving  family  of  Jacob 
Kaiser,  was  left  to  the  arbitrators  to  determine  afterward. 
But  Zurich  and  Bern  were  expressly  empowered,  if  the  con- 
ditions binding  on  the  Five  Cantons  were  not  fulfilled,  to  con- 


800  LIFE    OF    ZWJN'GLT. 

tinue  the  interdict  pgainst  the  exportation  of  provisions,  until 
they  would  comply.  It  was  simply  uttered  as  a  wish  that  the 
Five  Cantons  would  also  abolish  pensions. 

The  leaders  of  the  armies  communicated  the  rough  draft  of 
the  treaty  to  their  several  governments.  In  Bern  it  was  re- 
ceived with  universal  joy.  "  We  permit  you/'  wrote  the  gov- 
ernment to  her  members  in  the  field,  "  to  omit,  in  the  afiair  of 
the  Unterwaldners,  whatever  might  waken  strife  anew,  be  it  so 
far  only  as  is  consistent  with  our  honor.  It  is  hoped,  being 
now  again  united,  as  was  necessary,  we  will  be  able  to  bestow  a 
glance  on  our  foreign  enemies.  Henceforth  no  more  strangers, 
be  they  Burgundians,  Netherlanders,  Austrians,  Lorraiuers  or 
others  should  be  allowed  to  threaten  our  borders  with  impunity. 
We  should,  after  the  manner  of  our  fathers,  defend  ourselves. 
Sound  the  Five  Cantons  and  tell  us,  if  they  would  refuse  to 
arm."  Just  this,  meanwhile,  was  the  most  difficult  point. 
Under  various  pretexts  they  tried  to  put  off  the  delivery  of  the 
deeds  of  the  Austrian  alliance.  Then  Zurich  ordered  those 
of  her  militia,  who  were  already  prepared  for  a  return  home,  to 
stay,  and  called  back  others,  who  had  marched  off.  The  arbi- 
trators bogged.  The  Bernese  threatened ;  the  Banneret,  Peter 
im  Haag,  said :  ''  If  the  document  be  not  produced  immediately, 
we  will  fetch  it  in  procession."  At  last,  on  the  25th  of  June, 
about  2  o'clock  in  the  uight,  it  was  brought  to  Cappel.  What 
further  happened,  is  related  by  Thomas  Platter,  an  eye-witness, 
in  these  words  :  "  As  every  one  was  now  up,  they  came  together 
into  a  room,  and  the  amman  of  Glarus  took  the  document ;  for 
he  had  all  along  been  the  chief  umpire.  He  gave  it  to  a  scribe 
to  open;  it  was  terribly  broad  and  long;  the  like  I  have  never 
seen,  and  I  think  it  had  nine  seals  on  it;  one  large  one,  that 
was  golden.  Then  the  scribe  began  and  read  a  long  preface  of 
titles,  such  as  one  reads  on  the  square  at  Basel,  on  St,  John's 
day;  after  that,  the  Five   Cantons,  also,  under  the  titles  by 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI.  301 

which  they  are  known.  They  had  made  a  league.  Then  the 
amman  struck  his  hand  upon  the  document  and  said :  '  It  is 
enough.'  Then  one  behind  me,  who  was  doubtless  a  Zuricher, 
cried  out:  'Read  the  thing  through,  that  we  may  hear  how 
traitorously  they  would  have  dealt  with  us.'  The  amman 
turned  to  him  and  spake:  'How  read  it  through?  You 
must  hack  me  into  little  pieces  first,  before  I  will  suffer  it.' 
Therewith  he  laid  the  document  together  and  said :  '  You  are 
alas !  without  this,  too  highly  exasperated  against  each  other ; 
take  a  little  knife,  first  cut  off  the  seals,  and  then  slit  the  parch- 
ment into  long  strips,  give  it  to  the  scribe  in  a  little  cap,  that 
he  may  throw  it  into  the  fire/  What  became  of  the  seals  I 
do  not  know." 

Joyfully  the  Zurichers  marched  to  their  homes;  Zwingli 
with  anxiety  in  his  heart.  He  gave  utterance  to  it  in  the  fol- 
lowing verses,  which  he  also  set  to  music : 

Now  mount  the  chariot,  0  Lord, 

We  know  not  where  to  go. 
Thy  hand  mnst  now  uplift  the  sword 

And  smite  the  haughty  foe. 

God,  for  thy  honor  and  our  land 

Blast  Satan's  progeny. 
And  teach  thy  faithful  flock  to  stand 

Ever  more  firm  in  Thee. 

To  bitter  strife,  0  put  an  end  ! 

And  waken  love  anew  ; 
Kind  hearts  to  parted  brethren  send, 

Old  feelings  warm  and  true. 

The  Landfriede  (General  Peace)  was  concluded;  quiet  ap- 
peared to  be  restored  in  the  Confederacy.  Then  a  foreign  country 
laid  claim  to  the  Swiss  Reformer.  In  the  spring  of  1529,  the 
majority  of  the  princes  and  cities,  assembled  at  the  Imperial  Diet 
in  Spire,  endeavored  to  check  the  progress  of  the  Reformation 

2G 


302  LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

in  Germany,  by  stringent  resolutions.  Conflicting  doctrines  in 
regard  to  the  Lord's  Supper  especially,  should  not  be  allowed. 
No  more  ecclesiastical  innovations  were  to  be  permitted  until 
approved  at  an  ecumenical  council.  The  states  of  the  Empire, 
which  were  already  inclined  to  the  Gospel,  entered  protests 
against  this  compulsory  act,  and  received  thence  the  name  of 
Protestants.  The  most  active  of  these  Protestants  was  the 
landgrave  Philip  of  Hesse.  Resolved  to  carry  through  the 
rising  opposition,  even  against  the  Emperor  himself  if  necessary, 
he  directed  his  chief  attention  to  the  maintenance  and  estab- 
lishment of  concord  among  the  Protesters  themselves.  Al- 
though the  Confederates,  from  the  nature  of  their  special  com- 
pacts (huencle)  and  their  struggles  after  national  independence, 
had  actually  more  and  more  torn  lose  from  connection  with  the 
German  Empire,  they  were  still  always  formally  counted  as  be- 
longing to  it, — indeed,  said  so  themselves,  whenever  it  suited 
their  advantage.  But,  just  before  the  election  of  the  then 
reigning  Emperor,  the  Diet,  in  the  name  of  the  collective 
cantons,  wrote  a  complimentary  letter  to  the  Electoral  Princes, 
under  cover  of  the  privilege  due  to  them  as  members  of  the 
Empire.  Now  also  the  resolutions  of  the  Imperial  Diet  were 
communicated  by  the  Emperor,  and  a  demand  made  upon  them 
for  their  execution.  It  is  easy  to  imagine  that  the  Protestant 
Princes  would  strive  likewise  to  gain  them  over  to  their  party. 
Philip  of  Hesse  especially,  looked  toward  Zurich  and  Zwingli. 
Early  in  April,  he  had  addressed  him  from  Spire.  He  desired 
a  personal  interview.  At  the  same  time  it  might  serve  to  heal 
the  dispute  beween  the  Saxon  and  Swiss  Pteformers,  which  had 
taken  a  disagreeable  turn,  and  contributed  more  than  anything 
else  to  make  the  cause  of  the  Gospel  suspicious  in  the  eyes  of 
the  Catholics,  yea,  even  hateful  to  them.  The  chief  obstacle 
in  the  way  of  an  understanding  lay  in  the  manner  of  seeking 
it — by  a  general   formula,  a  declaration  drawn   up  in  words, 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  803 

though  the  Gospel  itself  did  not  contain  such  a  thing.  Few  in 
that  age  had  the  sound  judgment  of  the  later  landgrave^  Wil- 
liam of  Ilesse,  who,  in  the  year  15G6,  wrote  to  Bullinger: 
"AVhat  Christ,  the  Chief  Schoolmaster,  has  not  seen  fit  to  ex- 
plain, we  men  should  not  undertake  to  explain  for  ourselves/' 
That  Christ,  offering  himself  up  in  love,  would  continue  to  live 
in  all  the  members  of  his  church  to  the  remotest  ages,  and  so 
declared  at  the  last  breaking  of  bread  and  pouring  out  of  wine 
in  the  circle  of  his  disciples,  must  be  clear  to  every  reader  of 
the  Gospel.  Whether  and  hoic  he  continues  to  live  in  them, 
deeds  only  can  show :  the  confession  of  the  heart,  not  that  of 
the  lips,  which  Christ  himself  does  not  require  of  us. 

But  when,  in  spite  of  this,  such  a  thing  was  required,  it  was 
necessarily  apprehended  in  a  plainer  sense  by  some  of  the  Re- 
formers, and  in  a  more  profound  one  by  others,  according  to 
the  individual  peculiarities;  at  the  same  time  it  was  regarded 
as  more  free  or  more  binding  according  to  the  spirit  of  the 
the  nations  and  the  governments,  which  they  represented. 
This  will  best  appear  from  the  history  viewed  in  its  connection. 

It  has  already  been  intimated  in  this  work  that  the  mass, 
in  view  of  its  significance  and  determining  power,  forms  the 
ground-work  of  the  cultm,  or  form  of  worship  in  the  Catholic 
Church.  Yet  Catholic  writers  themselves  have  admitted  and 
publicly  expressed  it,  that,  long  before  the  Reformation,  dan- 
gerous ideas  concerning  the  mass  prevailed  among  the  jDcople, 
which,  fostered  designedly  by  the  clergy,  and  even  by  the  Popes, 
led  to  great  abuses,  being  employed,  through  the  founding  of 
masses  for  souls,  to  entice  immense  suras  of  money  from  pious 
superstition.  We  may  suppose,  that  the  Reformers  turned 
their  attention  chiefly  to  these  abuses,  and  first  of  all  were 
obliged  to  attain  for  themselves  a  right  view  of  the  design  of 
the  Lord's  Supper.  According  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Catholic 
Church,  the  bread  and  wine  were  changed,  by  the  consecration 


804  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

of  tlie  priest,  into  tlie  real  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  so  that 
thus,  by  the  transaction  of  the  mass,  the  personal  Christ  was 
once  more  sacrificed,  as  it  were,  and  in  this  way  the  redemption 
of  mankind  by  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ  dwelling  in 
mass,  was,  in  a  certain  measure,  daily  renewed,  for  the  salvation 
of  all  the  living,  or  even  the  departed,  for  whom  mass  was 
founded. 

This  mode  of  representation  was  unanimously  rejected  by  the 
Reformers;  but  in  order  to  prove  it  invalid,  they  had  to  resort 
to  explaining  the  words  of  the  Gospel,  and  here  they  began  to 
diverge  more  and  more  from  each  other.  We  all  know,  that 
Christ  simply  expressed  himself  thus :  ''Take,  eat;  this  is  my 
body,  broken  for  you;  do  this  in  remembrance  of  me;"  that 
after  supper  he  also  took  the  cup,  saying :  "  This  cup  is  the 
New  Testament  in  my  blood ;  as  oft  as  ye  drink  of  it,  do  it  in 
remembrance  of  me."  Zwingli,  with  his  searching  glance,  his 
methods  of  examination,  strengthened  by  the  study  of  the 
lively,  vigorous  authors  of  antiquity,  his  penetration  into  the 
spirit  of  language  and  his  dislike  to  everything  contrary  to  the 
course  of  nature,  ordained  by  God  himself,  soon  arrived  at  a 
mere  allegorical  exposition  of  these  words,  and  understood  by 
the  expression,  This  is,  simply,  This  signifies.  But  he  did  not 
entertain  this  view  alone.  Before  he  ventured  to  utter  it  pub- 
licly, a  Dutch  jurist,  Cornelius  Horn,  had  actually  done  it. 
Zwingli  caused  his  work  to  bo  printed  in  Switzerland,  and 
promoted  its  circulation.  In  the  Conference  at  Zurich  touch- 
ing the  mass,  he  for  the  first  time  came  out  openly  as  an  advo- 
cate of  this  view;  but  he  did  not  satisfy  the  bulk  of  his  hearers. 
The  not  unlearned  under-clerk,  Joachim  am  Gruet,  opposed 
him,  even  attacked  him,  in  a  second  Conference  before  the  Coun- 
cils and  scholars,  with  tolerable  success,  and  availed  himself  of 
tho  objection,  against  the  reference  of  the  Reformer  to  a  multi- 
tude of  Scripture  passages,  where  Christ  in  parables  likewise 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  305 

made  use  of  the  word  "Vs,"  plaiuly  instead  of  ^^  signifies/'  that 
they  were  only  parables,  whilst  the  Supper  was  a  transaction  so 
solemn,  that  such  an  arbitrary,  audacious  mode  of  interpretation 
could  in  no  wise  be  admitted.  How  Zwingli  was  at  first  em- 
barrassed by  this  objection,  and  how  he  afterward  succeeded  in 
refuting  it,  he  may  tell  us  in  his  own  language. 

"Undoubtedly,''  says  he  in  one  of  his  works,^'  "no  easy  task 
was  before  me,  namely,  to  cite  an  example  for  my  mode  of  in- 
terpretation, derived  from  no  parable.  I  began  to  think  over 
it,  to  look  for  it  everywhere ;  in  vain  !  I  could  find  nothing. 
The  13th  of  April  was  at  hand;f  I  tell  the  truth;  (willingly 
would  I  keep  silent,  for  I  well  know  many  will  make  a  mock 
of  it;  but  it  is  God's  finger;  my  conscience  constrains  me  to 
speak),  early  in  the  morning,  before  the  break  of  day,  I  dreamed 
that  I,  yet  full  of  chagrin,  was  once  more  attacked  in  battle 
with  the  under-clerk,  and  so  beaten  that  I  could  discover  no 
way  of  escape,  and  my  tongue  refused  to  do  its  office.  This 
anguish  tormented  me  in  an  incredible  manner,  as  such  things 
do  in  dreams,  during  the  deceitful  night.  (I  wish  to  tell  it 
only  as  a  dream,  although  it  concerns  me  much ;  although  that  is 
important  enough  for  me ;  which  I  have  learned,  thanks  be  to 
God !  through  whose  power  alone  anything  is  possible).  As  by 
the  stroke  of  an  enchanter's  wand,  I  saw  a  comforter  stand  be- 
fore me,  (whether  he  was  white  or  black,  I  cannot  say;  I  re- 
late a  dream).  '■  Wherefore,  thou  a\^kward  one,'  he  asks,  '  dost 
thou  not  oppose  him  with  the  passage  in  the  twelfth  chapter  of 
the  second  book  of  Moses  ?  It  is,  the  Lord's  passover.'  I  awoke, 
sprang  out  of  bed,  looked  at  the  passage,  thought  over  it  and 
preached  from  it  in  the  morning  before  the  congregation,  and,  as 
I  hope  with  sufficient  power.     The  sermon  swept  the   mists 

*  De  Eucharisiia.     Zwingli's  "VYorlvS,  by  Schnlcr  and  Schultheiss, 
Latinorum  scriptorum  pars  prima,  p.  341. 
•}•  Thursday  of  Passion-Tveek,  1525. 

25* 


806  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

from  tlie  eyes  of  all  those,  who,  on  account  of  the  above-men- 
tioned difficulty,  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  a  clear  view,  and 
three  days  after,  on  the  festival  of  the  resurrection,  such  a  pass- 
over  of  the  Lord  was  celebrated,  as  I  have  never  yet  seen,  and 
the  number  of  those,  who  hankered  after  the  flesh-pots  of  Egypt 
was  less  than  any  one  would  have  ventured  to  hope." 

In  the  beginning,  Luther  also  had  looked  at  this  mode  of  in- 
terpretation, but  discovered  in  the  bias  of  his  mind  greater 
difficulties,  to  which  others  of  an  external  nature  were  added. 
As  early  as  the  year  1524,  he  had  written  to  the  "  Christians 
at  Strassburg:"  ''This  I  confess — if  any  one  had  been  able  to 
assure  me  five  years  ago  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  Sacra- 
ment but  bread  and  wine,  he  would  have  done  me  the  greatest 
service.  I  then  endured  such  a  severe  temptation  and  so  strug- 
gled and  writhed,  that  I  would  willingly  have  been  delivered, 
for  I  plainly  saw  that  by  it  I  could  have  dealt  the  heaviest 
blow  against  the  Papacy;  but  I  am  fast  and  cannot  get  out. 
The  text  is  too  powerful  here  and  will  not  suffer  itself  to  be 
wrested  of  its  meaning  by  words."  The  thing,  which  had  es- 
pecially awakened  his  dislike  to  the  Zwinglian  view,  and  which 
he  does  not  here  tell  us,  was  the  circumstance,  that,  before 
Zwingli  had  yet  expressed  himself  publicly  in  regard  to  the 
Lord's  Supper,  Doctor  Carlstadt  had  come  out  in  Saxony  with 
a  still  bolder  interpretation,  by  which  he  attempted  to  break  up 
the  connection  of  Christ's  own  words  of  institution  in  such  a 
way,  that  half  of  them  lost  all  their  meaning.  In  a  violent 
work,  that  met  with  approval  in  many  places,  he  then  spread 
abroad  this  interpretation.  This  Carlstadt  was  to  Luther  a 
glowingly-hated  stone  of  offence,  which  everywhere  laid  in  his 
way.  Whilst  Luther  was  in  the  Wartburg,  he  had  headed  the 
furious  image-stormcrs  in  Wittemberg.  He  now  made  his 
home  in  Orlamuend,  where  he  supplanted  the  preacher,  disre- 
garded all  the  ordinances  of  the  Elector,  and  excited  the  people 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  807 

to  such  a  degree,  tliat  when  Luther  went  into  the  country,  at 
the  command  of  the  Prince,  to  restore  order,  be  was  pelted 
with  dirt  and  stones,  and  pursued  with  the  cry :  ^' Drive  off,  in 
the  name  of  a  thousand  devils,  and  break  your  neck! '^  De- 
prived of  his  situation,  after  such  doings,  Carlstadt  went  to 
Strassburg,  and  then  to  Switzerland.  Meanwhile,  his  writings 
were  forbidden  by  the  Council  at  Strassburg.  Zwingli,  on 
the  other  hand,  declared  this  to  be  unjust,  because  Carlstadt's 
writings  contained  neither  godless  nor  fanatical  errors.  Hence- 
forth Luther  began  to  transfer  his  hatred  against  Carlstadt 
more  and  more  to  Zwingli,  although  the  latter,  in  his 
work,  "On  true  and  false  Religion,''  only  excused  Carlstadt's 
interpretation,  but  in  no  wise  approved,  rather  assailed  itj  and 
when  CEcolampadius  also  issued  his  treatise  on  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, Luther  came  out  openly  in  the  most  passionate  letters 
against  the  Swiss  Reformers.  ''  For  myself,'*  says  he,  in  one 
of  them,  ''  I  confess,  that  I  do  not  think  Zwingli  a  Christian 
with  all  his  doctrines,  for  he  holds  and  teaches  no  part  of  the 
Christian  faith  rightly,  and  has  become  seven  time-s  worse  than 
when  he  was  a  Papist,  according  to  Christs's  judgment:  'The 
last  state  of  that  man  shall  be  worse  than  the  first.'  I  make 
such  a  confession,  that  I  may  be  without  blame  before  God  and 
the  world,  because  I  have  no  share  in  Zwingli' s  doctrines,  nor 
will  have  to  all  eternity!"* 

To  allay  this  strife  was  the  task  which  the  landgrave  Philip 
of  Hesse,  proposed  to  himself.  This  Prince,  then  in  his  twenty- 
fifth  year,  a  man  of  scientific  culture,  an  indefatigable  ruler,  be- 
loved by  his  people  and  feared  by  his  more  powerful  neighbors, 
on  account  of  his  decided  and  enterprising  character,  was  the 
soul  of  the  Protestant  party.  To  the  Elector  of  Saxony,  who, 
possessed  of  more  prudence  and  timidity,  stood  along  with  him 
at  its  head,  he  wrote :  "  Rather  would  I  give  up  body  and  life, 

*  Martin  Luther's  Works,  edited  by  Plizer,  p.  GOO. 


308  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

land  and  people,  than  abandon  God  and  his  Word.'^  At  his 
court  lived  Duke  Ulric,  of  Wuertemberg,  an  exile,  driven  from 
his  country  by  the  Emperor,  and  the  Swabian  League,  but  un- 
daunted, eager  for  war,  and  continually  busied  with  plans  for 
recovering  his  princely  seat.  At  an  earlier  period  he  had  spent 
some  time  in  Switzerland  and  became  personally  acquainted 
with  Zwingli,  and  through  him  the  landgrave  was  also  brought 
into  connection  with  the  Keformer.  Thinking  clearly  and  feel- 
ing dearly ;  imbued  also  with  the  spirit  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
he  thought,  if  stubbornness  did  not  prevent  it,  a  mutual  under- 
standing was  yet  possible,  and  resolved  to  spare  no  pains  in 
order  to  attain  it.  Zwingli  and  fficolampadius  willingly  con- 
sented to  his  proposal  of  a  Conference.  They  only  wished  it  to 
be  held  in  Strassburg,  because  Zwingli  especially  despaired  of 
receiving  permision  from  the  Zurich  Council  for  the  dangerous 
journey  to  Marburg,  the  residence  of  the  landgrave^  and  so 
long  an  absence.  The  consent  of  the  Saxons  was  more  difficult 
to  obtain.  Melancthon  from  timidity,  and  because  he  did  not 
wish  to  break  fully  with  the  Catholics,  reconciliation  with  whom 
he  thought  yet  possible,  and  Luther  from  dislike  avoided  the 
Conference;  the  former  even  privately  requested  the  Elector 
not  to  permit  them  to  go.  "It  is  not  well/'  he  said,  "  for  the 
landgrave  to  have  much  to  do  with  the  Zwinglians;  he  has 
taken,  moreover,  a  greater  liking  to  them,  than  is  necessary; 
for  the  matter  has  come  to  such  a  point,  that  acute  people,  like 
the  landgrave,  regard  it  with  the  deepest  interest,  and  the  un- 
derstanding seizes  readily  upon  what  it  comprehends,  especially 
if  men  of  learning,  who  can  give  the  matter  from  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, are  inclined  that  way,  and  we  know  that  many  scholars  now 
adhere  to  Zwingli.'' 

It  is  clear  that  the  Swiss  were  regarded  by  the  Saxons  as 
radical  stormcrs,  unprincipled  innovators,  who,  amid  their 
mountains  and  their  republican  affairs  had  forgotten  all  respect 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  809 

for  law  and  order.  "  I  am  sick;''  wrote  Melanchton  to  one  friend, 
*-'an  indescribable  anguish  of  soul  torments  me;  I  can  scarcely 
breathe.  Thou  knowest  wherefore.  The  Elbe  has  fearfully 
overflowed  its  banks.  Even  in  Hesse  I  saw  a  great  stone  torn 
out  of  the  side-walk  of  a  church  by  the  might  of  the  floods,  as 
though  done  by  the  contrivances  of  art.  Still  other  signs  hap- 
pen. Christ  defend  us!"  and  to  another:  ''Rather  would  I 
die,  than  live  to  see  this  Zwinglian  afiiiir  pollute  our  just  cause." 
Luther  spoke  thus  against  the  landgrave  himself:  "I  know 
well  what  the  devil  is  after.  God  grant  I  may  be  no  prophet ; 
for  if  it  were  not  a  false  trick,  but  a  real  purpose  among  them 
to  seek  peace,  they  would  not  attempt  it  in  such  a  glorious 
fashion  through  great  and  mighty  princes;  for  we,  by  God's 
grace,  are  not  so  savage  and  wild,  that  they  could  not  long  ago 
have  tendered  to  us,  as  they  yet  can,  the  humble  endeavors  for 
peace,  of  which  they  boast;  but  I  know  that  I  will  not  basely  give 
way  to  them.  I  cannot;  because  I  am  so  fully  persuaded  that 
they  err,  and  are  themselves,  morever,  unsettled  in  their  opin- 
ions." At  last,  Melanchton  made  the  proposal  to  invite  some 
Papists  to  the  Conference  a.s  Vv'itnesses,  though  in  fact  rather  to 
pave  the  way  for  their  final  consent ;  and  for  a  long  while  yet, 
both  he  and  Luther  wished  to  h;ive  fficolampadius  as  an  oppo- 
nent, and  protested  against  the  appearance  of  Zwingli. 

But  such  spectres  were  not  visible  to  the  landgrave  Philip. 
He  was  one  of  those  princes,  who,  conscious  of  their  own  power 
and  of  love  to  their  people,  by  whom  in  turn  they  are  beloved, 
can  look  without  fear  even  on  republican  afiairs;  a  man  in 
whom  faith  lived,  and  who  without  hesitation,  therefore,  suf- 
fered the  spirit  to  live ;  and,  acting  thus,  hoped,  with  youthful 
assurance,  to  calm  down  the  violent  combatants  by  his  influence, 
if  he  could  only  get  a  personal  interview  with  them.  This  ap- 
pears best  from  his  own  words:  "Dear  Master  Erhard,"  so  he 
wrote  some  years  after  this  period,  to  another  of  the  zealots  in 


310  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

the  Eucharistic  controversy,  the  Wuertemberg  preacher,  Erliard 
Schnepf,  ''I  hear  that  you  will  not  leave  Blarer  (preacher  at 
Constance)  unmolested  in  the  confession,  with  which  Luther 
and  Philip  (Melanchton)  are  still  satisfied,  but  press  upon  him 
with  sophistical  language,  and  have  made  many  persons  anxious 
lest  you  would  break  down  more  than  you  build  up,  which  I 
myself  do  not  yet  accuse  you  of,  but  should  it  happen,  it  will 
grieve  many  a  pious  man.  Hence,  it  is  my  prayer,  that  you 
"will  proceed  gently;  be  no  disputer  of  words,  but  a  promoter 
of  faith,  love  and  good  works,  and  not,  as  the  old  proverb  says, 
^ raise  a  spoon  and  break  a  bowl;'  for  you  might  have  a  zeal, 
when  you  have  reached  a  sure  understanding,  to  press  it  upon 
others  and  yet  not  reach  the  heart;  and  besides,  to  speak  hu- 
manly, do  great  injury  to  the  Gospel;  as,  for  example,  many 
pious  people  might  be  brought  thereby  to  persecution  and  ruin, 
when  the  matter  was  not  even  worth  talking  about.  Therefore 
proceed  wisely,  that  you  may  not  become  a  partaker  of  such 
blood  and  such  destruction.  It  will  not  do  to  plunge  thus  into 
matters.  The  Apostles  acted  prudently;  they  did  not  thus  re- 
ject people  for  trifling  errors.  I  point  this  out  to  you,  as  one, 
who  heartily  desires  you  to  treat  of  things,  that  will  promote 
the  cause  of  the  Gospel,  unity,  and  love  also.  Understand  your- 
self, and  do  not  go  further  than  God  allows.  Let  not  the  old 
Adam  lord  it  over  the  new.  You  have  not  been  preaching 
long.     It  is  needful  to  exhort  you.     Adieu.'' 

Guided  by  such  a  noble  endeavor  to  restore  harmony  among 
the  Protestants,  he  pursued  his  mark  with  unwearied  zeal,  and 
obtained  the  consent  of  the  Elector  of  Saxony,  (who  now  re- 
quired his  learned  men  to  attend  tlie  Conference),  and  at  length 
that  also  of  Luther  and  Melanchton,  who,  under  date  of  July 
8th,  1529,  wrote  to  him  as  follows:  ^' Since  Your  Princely 
Grace  has  received  our  two  letters,  and  still  insist  upon  our 
coming  to  Marburg,  in  the  confident  hope  that  concord  will  re- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  oil 

suit  from  it,  we  wish  with  a  cheerful  and  ready  mind  to  con- 
tribute our  part  thereto,  and  by  God's  grace,  if  sound  and  well, 
will  appear  at  Marburg  on  the  day  appointed.  The  Father  of 
all  mercy  and  unity  grant  His  spirit  that  we  may  come  together 
not  in  vain — for  profit  and  not  injury.  Amen.  Christ  be  Your 
Princely  Grace's  Governor  and  Guide  I" 

Zwingli  also,  when  Philip  had  repeated  the  invitation  to 
Marburg  and  pledged  himself  for  the  security  of  the  journey, 
set  out.  He  ventured  to  say  nothing  to  the  government;  had 
even  entreated  the  landgrave  to  confine  his  request  to  the 
Privy  Council.  On  the  first  day  after  his  departure,  he  began 
a  letter  to  the  Council,  in  which  he  apologises  for  not  commu- 
nicating the  request  to  them,  and  says  in  addition :  "  It  was 
not  done  with  any  intention  to  slight  your  Worships,  but  in  or- 
der to  discharge  my  duties  with  greater  fidelity  to  you,  since  I 
forsaw  you  would  not  grant  me  permission,  because  of  the  in- 
terest you  take  in  my  welfare;  for  the  distance  by  the  route  we 
go  is  60  miles,*  and  the  place  strange  to  us  on  account  of  its 
religion,  though  secure  enough,  being  in  the  territory  of  the 
landgrave,  and  the  learned  there  all  hostile  to  us,  and  our 
number  is  only  three.  So  also  friends,  in  whom  we  could  con- 
fide, are  few,  from  Zurich  until  very  far  down  the  Rhine.  Yet 
it  would  not  be  right  for  me  to  remain  away,  since  by  this  the 
whole  plan  would  be  frustrated,  and  many  excellent  men  of 
the  opposition  brought  thither  on  a  fruitless  journey.  Then  it 
would  be  interpreted,  as  if  we  were  afraid  of  a  friendly  con- 
ference. Therefore,  I  pray  your  Worships,  in  the  most  humble 
manner,  not  to  take  my  going  oflf  amiss,  for  I  was  loth  to  hear 
others  despise  you;  and  remember  too  that  my  staying  away 
might  result  in  injury  to  the  truth  and  the  disparagement  of 
your  good  name.  Otherwise  you  may  hope  in  God,  that  we,  by 
His  aid,  will  give  a  faithful,  undaunted  support  to  the  truth 

*  Eqnal  to  270  English  miles. — Translator. 


312  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT. 

and  bring  no  scandal  on  onr  church/'  He  then  apologized 
likewise  for  the  departure  of  Collin,  the  professor  of  the  Greek 
language,  whom  he  had  taken  with  him  -,  asked,  since  Basel  had 
granted  a  member  of  the  Council  to  QEcolampadius,  that  the 
same  might  be  done  for  his  assistance ;  and  nominated  the 
treasurer,  Ulric  Funk,  on  account  of  his  cleverness  and  knowl- 
edge of  the  Latin  language,  who,  as  soon  as  he  had  received 
permission,  hastened  to  join  him.  Immediately  after  his  de- 
parture from  Zurich,  his  enemies  crept  out  of  their  hiding- 
places.  Nonsensical  reports  were  circulated.  "He  has  run 
away  with  a  party  of  rogues,'^  said  some;  the  "  Devil  has  carried 
him  off,''  said  others.  In  Basel  they  met  ffieolampadius  and 
the  deputy  of  the  Council,  Rudolph  Frei.  The  plan  was,  that 
from  thence  he  should  proceed  along  with  Q^^colampadius  by 
water  to  Strassburg.  He  asked  for  a  moderate  advance  of  mon- 
ey; because  riding  "on  a  hired  horse  cost  a  great  deal,"  he 
would  be  obliged  to  buy  one  at  Strassburg,  which  would  leave 
him  little  for  the  expenses  of  the  journey,  and  then,  being 
compelled  to  borrow,  would  " become  a  laughing-stock."  "To 
my  wife,"  he  concluded,  "let  Master  Stall  tell  as  much  of  the 
matter  as  a  woman  ought  to  know,"  for  when  I  left  her,  I  said 
no  more  than  that  I  was  e;:oing  to  Basel  on  business."  In 
Basel,  where  he  tarried  nearly  two  weeks,  he  preached  to  a 
great  concourse  of  people.  The  time  was  also  employed  by  him 
in  political  negotiation.  This  imperial  city  desired  then  ad- 
mission into  the  Christian  Buergcrrecht  on  the  same  terms  as 
Constance.  The  mayor,  Sturm,  likewise  invited  to  the  Con- 
ference by  the  landgrave^  along  with  Bucer  and  Hedio,  was  an 
experienced  statesman,  and  not  without  influence  at  the  Im- 
perial Diet.  He  had  connections  in  France,  lleports  had 
been  received  concerning  the  reconciliation  of  the  Empero.r  with 
the  Pope,  against  whom  he  had  been  carrying  on  war,  and  his 
arrival  in  Italy  and  the  general  sweepiug  measures  toward  the 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  81^ 

Protestants,  to  be  appreheuded  from  this  combination  of  spirit- 
ual and  temporal  power.  They  were  communicated  confiden- 
tially to  the  Zurichers.  Some  of  them  Zwiugli  wrote  down. 
The  most  important  he  sent  to  the  Privy  Council  with  the  post- 
script: "This  comes  from  the  real  cabinet  of  art.^'  "Were 
it  not  wicked/'  he  again  wrote  from  Strassburg,  "we  might 
encourage  the  Venetians  to  withstand  them  so  boldly,  that  the 
Emperor  would  be  finished  in  Italy,  and  not  able  to  escape  over 
the  mountains."  On  the  18th  of  September  they  left  the  city 
and,  by  a  circuitous  route,  which  they  had  to  choose  for  safety, 
reached  Marburg  on  the  29th.  The  day  after,  the  Saxon  schol- 
ars, Luther,  Melanchton,  Justus  Jonas,  from  Wittemberg,  and 
several  others,  made  their  appearance.  From  Nuremberg,  came 
Andrew  Osiander;  from  Swabian  Halle,  John  Brenz;  from 
Augsburg,  Stephen  Agricola;  all  likewise  invited  by  the  land- 
grave. In  an  humble  letter,  signed  "Your  Princely  Grace's 
obedient  servant  and  poor  little  worm,"  Carlstadt  also  begged 
for  admission,  but  received  a  polite  refusal.  The  entire  com- 
pany was  lodged  in  the  castle.  A  Latin  poem  written  by  Pro- 
fessor Curicius  conjured  them  to  begin  the  Conference  with 
such  calmness,  and  prosecute  it  with  such  dignity,  that  the 
world  may  know  the  Spirit  of  God  had  presided  over  it. 

Strangers  from  various  countries  had  arrived  in  considerable 
numbers;  but  no  one  received  admittance,  except  those  who 
were  invited;  the  Duke  of  Wuertemberg,  the  Count  of  Fuers- 
tenberg,  several  courtiers,  the  professors  of  the  University  and 
the  Hessian  preachers.  Zwingli's  request,  that  the  proceedings 
should  be  written  down  by  secretaries  under  oath,  and  the  Latin 
language  used,  was  declined  by  the  landgrave ;  likewise  the 
wish  of  Luther  and  Melanehtoii,  for  the  aid  of  respectable 
Papists.  Immediately  after  his  arrival,  Luther  had  received  a 
visit  of  courtesy  from  (Ecolampadius,  Bucer  and  Hedio;  Zwingli 
remained  without  a  greeting  from  the  si.de  of  his  opponents. 


oM  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

Justus  Jonas  studied  physiognomy  and  manners.  He  pretended 
"to  see  in  Zwingli  a  certain  tincture  of  rustic  arrogance;  in 
CKcolampadius  a  wonderfully  mild  nature;  in  Hedio,  no  less 
humanity  and  liberal  culture;  in  Buccr,  under  the  mantle  of 
sagacity  and  penetration,  fox-like  cunning/^ 

On  the  20th  of  September,  the  landgrave  first  joined  his 
guests  at  the  supper-table.  Here  he  expressed  the  wish  that 
on  the  following  morning  Luther  would  hold  a  special  conver- 
sation with  (Ecolampadius  and  Zwingli  with  Melanchton.  He 
hoped  by  thus  placing  a  vehement  character  over  against  a 
gentle  one  in  each  case,  to  render  the  after  approach  of  the 
chief  combatants  more  easy  perhaps.  The  Saxons  were  the  com- 
plainants. They  accused  the  Swiss  of  eiTors  in  various  points. 
But  everything  soon  gave  way  to  the  doctrine  of  the  Lord's 
Supper.  For  three  hours  Luther  tried  his  fortune  with  ffico- 
lampadius,  and  Melanchton  with  Zwingli  for  six.  Agreement 
continued  impossible.  Yet  Luther  sent  the  news  in  a  letter, 
that  the  conflict  had  been  carried  on  in  separate  chambers,  in  a 
friendly  tone. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  October,  at  six  o'clock,  the  dis- 
cussion began  in  the  presence  of  from  50  to  60  persons,  invited 
or  admitted,  in  the  Hall  of  the  Knights.  At  a  special  table, 
opposite  to  Zwingli  and  (Ecolampadius,  sat  Luther  and  Me- 
lanchton; in  their  immediate  neighborhood,  the  landgrave^ 
surrounded  by  his  courtiers;  the  others  rather  behind.  Feige, 
the  chancellor  of  state,  opened  the  Conference  in  the  name  of 
the  Prince,  with  an  address.  After  unfolding  the  pure,  suc- 
cessful, grand  beginning  of  the  Reformation,  he  then  contin- 
ued: "but  now,  some  of  the  leaders  themselves,  animated  by  a 
schismatic  spirit,  have  hurried  on  too  rashly,  and  been  so  far 
misled,  that  they,  who  were  bound  ever  to  remain  faithful  at 
the  head  of  the  cause,  and,  by  their  common  power  and  mutual 
support,  sweep  away  every  vestige  of  error,  have  now  not  only 


LIFE   OF   ZWIx\GLI,  815 

deserted  tlieir  post,  but  even  attacked  eaeli  other,  to  tlie  great 
joy  and  delight  of  the  enemy.  Therefore,  if  they  cannot  find 
Bufficient  reasons  for  concord  in  the  Gospel  itself,  and  their  duty 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  Church  they  ought  not  to  give 
their  bitterest  enemies  occasion  to  rejoice  and  exhibit  so  sad  a 
spectacle  of  disunion.  His  Princely  Grace  wishes  to  prescribe 
neither  aim  nor  measure  to  this  Conference ;  but  would  remind 
the  members,  that  wherever  similar  transactions  have  takcH 
place,  men  of  true  learning,  even  if  they  had  written  somewhat 
roughly  and  severely  against  each  other  before,  had  then  laid 
aside  wrath  and  bitterness,  so  the  unlearned  might  the  better 
perceive,  that  they  sought  truth  and  love  more  than  a  mere 
defence  of  their  own  opinions  with  sharp  and  quick  words. 
Those  who  now  take  this  course,  cannot  fail  to  win  praise  and 
thanks,  whilst  the  others,  who  do  not  like  unity,  but  obstinate- 
ly persist  in  a  delusion  once  embraced,  from  which  all  heresies 
spring,  will  thereby  give  an  undoubted  proof,  that  the  Holy 
Spirit  does  not  reign  in  their  hearts,  and  has  never  been  among 
them  with  his  gifts.  His  Princely  Grace  hopes  that  the  pres- 
sent  Conference  will  have  a  happier  termination,  and  closes 
with  the  gracious  desire,  that  the  very  learned  Masters  will 
understand  and  receive  all  this  in  the  best  spirit."  On  their 
side  thanks  were  now  given  to  the  landgrave  for  his  trouble, 
and  a  promise  made,  to  carry  on  the  discussion  without  any 
bitterness,  in  a  respectful  and  friendly  manner ;  but,  although 
unity  should  be  sought  with  the  most  ardent  zeal,  this  at  the 
same  time  could  not  be  effected  at  the  expense  of  divine  and 
revealed  truth,  and  Christ's  words  would  be  preferred  before 
all  others. 

After  this,  the  discussion  was  commenced  by  Luther's  writing 
on  the  table  with  chalk,  these  words  in  the  Latin  language  : 
^^ Hoc  est  corjpus  meum''  (This  is  my  body).  With  great  mild- 
ness and  learning  Q^colampadius  now  unfolded  his  view,  which 


316  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

Luther,  however,  in  spite  of  every  challenge,  refused  to  con- 
tradict, falling  back  always  upon  the  verbal  expression.  "Be- 
loved sirs,"  said  he,  ''as  long  as  these  words  stand,  I  cannot 
really  get  over  them,  but  must  confess  and  believe,  that  the 
body  of  Christ  is  there." — Springing  up,  Zwingli  asked:  "Is 
He  indeed  tliere,  Doctor,  corporeally  there  ?  There  also  in  the 
sacrament,  is  He  daily  broken  anew  ?  In  what  then  do  you 
differ  from  the  Papists?"  The  scene  became  more  lively; 
Luther's  replies  more  bitter.  He  complained  that  Zwingli 
wished  to  trip  him,  to  give  his  words  wantonly  another  mean- 
ing than  he  had  intended.  The  latter  controlled  himself  some- 
what, brought  up  passages  of  Scripture  for  explanation,  came 
forward  with  remarks  on  the  grammar,  with  interpretations  of 
the  Church  Fathers  and  carried  the  discussion  even  into  the 
si^here  of  philosophy  and  physics.  In  no  way  did  Luther  per- 
mit himself  to  be  caught;  turned  back  always  to  the  letter,  and 
declared,  that  he  would  do  it;  that  we  durst  not  in  this  case 
deviate  therefrom,  because  the  Lord  had  so  expressed  himself; 
and  unconditional  faith  must  transcend  all  doubt;  and  "if  the 
Lord  God  placed  ^rab-apples  before  me  and  commanded  me  to 
take  and  eat,  I  durst  not  ask,  wherefore?"  "God  commands 
us  to  eat  neither  dirt  nor  crab-apples,"  said  Zwingli. — When  it 
came  to  such  sharp  words,  the  landgrave  interposed  somewhat, 
or  one  of  the  others  present,  Q^]colarapadius  occasionally  re- 
lieving his  friend,  and  Melanchthon  Luther.  For  two  whole 
days  the  discussion  lasted,  with  a  diminishing  prospect  of  agree- 
ment. The  Saxons  were  evidently  irritated  by  Zwingli's  uncon- 
strained behavior  and  bold  language.  He  gave  them  plainly 
to  understand,  that  he  feared  in  Luther  a  sort  of  new  Pope. 
"I  will  not  have  it,"  once  dropped  from  the  lips  of  the  latter, 
"3Iust  you  then  have  everything  just  as  you  wish?"  asked 
Zwingli. 

It  had  become  clear  to  the  landgrave  that  a  mutual  under- 


LIFE   OF   ZWIXGLL  317 

standing  was  impossible,  and  still  more  clear,  when  the  Mayor 
of  Strassbiirg  rose  up  with  a  complaint,  that  Luther  had  also 
charged  the  preachers  of  his  city  with  teaching  error.  This 
accusation  should  not  be  permitted  to  lie  against  them;  he 
could  not  return  home  with  such  news.  "Bucer  and  Hedio 
themselves  desired  Luther  to  speak  out  decidedly,  and  prove 
wherein  they  taught  falsely;  but  he  would  not  do  it,  nor  tes- 
tify that  they  were  true  pastors.  ^'I  am,"  said  he,  "neither 
your  lord  nor  your  judge;  you  wish  neither  me  nor  my  doc- 
trines ;  our  spirit  and  yours  do  not  accord ;  therefore  I  will  give 
you  no  testimonial.  You  also  do  not  need  it,  for  you  boast 
everywhere,  you  have  learned  nothing  from  us.  This,  more- 
over, every  man  can  see  for  himself,  and  we  would  not  have 
such  disciples." 

"No!"  exclaimed  the  landgrave  with  warmth,  "you  shall 
not  separate  in  such  a  fasion,  my  Lords.  You  must  draw  up 
certain  points,  acceptable  to  both,  and  give  them  your  common 
signature,  so  that  an  evidence,  at  least,  of  your  external  agree- 
ment is  at  hand,  if  that  which  is  internal  cannot  be  reached. 
Confer  among  yourselves  how  and  as  long  as  j^ou  please;  but 
before  this  I  cannot  suffer  you  to  depart."  The  theologians 
came  together,  and  on  the  4th  of  October  produced  fifteen  ar- 
ticles on  the  chief  doctrines,  which  were  signed  by  Luther, 
Melanchton,  Jonas,  Osiander,  Brenz,  and  Agricola,  on  the  one 
side,  and  OEcolampadius,  Zwingli,  Bucer  and  Hedio  on  the 
other.  The  last  words  of  it  ran  thus:  "and  although  we  have 
not  been  able  now  to  agree,  as  to  whether  the  true  body  and 
blood  of  Christ  are  corporeally  present  in  the  bread  and  wine, 
yet  one  party  ought  to  exercise  Christian  charity  toward  the 
other,  as  far  as  each  conscience  can  possible  allow  it,  and  both 
parties  ought  to  beseech  Almighty  God  fervently,  to  lead  us  by 
His  Spirit  to  a  right  understanding.     Amen." 

In   conclusion,  the   landgrave  exhorted  them   to   paii;  as 

27* 


318    ■  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

brethren.  ^^Then  Zwingli  said/'  as  Bullinger  narrates,  "there 
were  no  people  on  earth,  with  whom  he  would  rather  be  united 
than  the  Wittenbergers,  and  he  would  cheerfully  acknowledge 
Luther  and  his  friends  as  brethren.  Qj]colampadius,  Bucer 
and  Hedio  had  also  the  same  feeling;  but  Luther  was  by  no 
means  willing  to  acknowledge  them  as  brethren  in  return,  and 
said :  It  took  him  by  surprise,  that  they  would  call  him  brother, 
whose  doctrine  on  the  sacrament  they  esteemed  false;  they 
could  not  themselves  think  much  of  their  own.''  In  regard  to 
the  same  event,  he  wrote  to  Jacob  Probst  of  Bremen:  "They 
promised  with  many  words,  they  would  yield  this  much  to  us, 
that  the  person  of  Christ  was  really,  though  spiritually,  present 
in  the  Holy  Supper,  if  we  would  only  esteem  them  worthy  of 
the  name  of  brother,  and  in  this  way  feign  a  reconciliation. 
Zwingli  begged  it  with  tears  in  his  eyes  before  the  landgrave 
and  all  present,  whilst  he  added  :  *  There  are  no  men  with  whom 
I  would  rather  be  united  than  with  the  Wittenbergers.'  AVith 
the  greatest  zeal  and  as  urgently  as  possible  they  endeavored  to 
appear  in  harmony  with  us  and  never  could  endure  my  saying : 
^You  have  another  spirit  than  we.'  As  often  as  they  heard  it 
they  were  inflamed.  Finally,  we  granted  so  much,  that  it  might 
stand  at  the  conclusion  of  the  article,  not  indeed  that  we  were 
brethren,  but  that  we  would  not  withdraw  from  them  our  love, 
which  is  due  even  to  an  enemy.  So  now,  the  shame  rests  on  them, 
that  they  would  not  receive  the  name  of  brother  and  must 
separate  as  heretics;  meanwhile  we  agreed,  in  our  controversial 
writings,  no  more  to  make  war  on  each  other,  in  the  hope  that 
the  Lord  would  open  their  hearts.  Thou  canst  tell  this  confi- 
dentially. As  a  preacher  of  Christ,  who  is  the  Truth,  I  write 
the  truth.  By  it  thou  canst  quietly  oppose  all  liars  and  dis- 
turbers. They  behaved  toward  us  with  incredible  humanity 
and  compliance.  But,  as  it  now  appears,  all  was  show,  in  order 
to  bring  about  a  hypocritical  concord  and  make  us  the   partners 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  319 

of  their  errors.  0  how  cunning  Satan  is !  But  Christ  is  still 
wiser.  He  has  preserved  us.  I  am  no  longer  surprised,  if  they 
lie  shamelessly.  I  see  that  they  could  not  do  otherwise,  and 
am  glad  of  it;  for  they  have  reached  this  point  under  the 
guidance  of  Satan,  that  they  betray  themselves  not  merely  by 
their  secret  intrigues,  but  openly  before  all  the  world." 

Sad  of  heart,  the  landgrave  left  Marburg  before  Luther  and 
Melanchtou.  Since  concord  was  not  to  be  restored  among  the 
theologians,  it  became  so  much  the  more  necessary  to  secure  a 
closer  connection  of  the  governments.  He  held  various  con- 
sultations on  this  subject  with  Zwingli,  Sturm  and  several  of 
their  associates.  The  political  consequences  flowing  from  the 
Conference,  will  be  detailed  in  the  next  chapter;  concerning 
those  of  a  religious  and  scientific  nature,  this  much  may  be 
yet  said : 

The  enemies  of  the  combatants  alone  derived  gain  from  it. 
Their  hatred  against  the  Reformation  appeared  now  to  be 
wholly  justified.  ^'Here  you  have,"  said  they,  *Hhe  efi'ects, 
when  children  tear  loose  from  the  Everlasting  Mother.  They 
now  turn  against  themselves  the  intellectual  weapons,  so  highly 
bepraised,  which  they  have  used  against  us.  What  others  are 
left  for  them  against  us,  save  those  of  iron  ? "  Now,  to  these 
neither  Luther  nor  Melanchton  would  have  recourse.  But 
Zwingli  tried  it,  and — fell.  The  Reformation  seemed  about 
to  go  backward.  Paralyzing  formulas  took  the  place  of  the 
living  Gospel :  fii'st,  the  Augsburg  Confession;  then,  the  Hel- 
vetic, and  for  others  again,  the  XXXIX  Articles  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  of  England.  Protestant  Popes  rose  up  beside 
the  Catholic,  who,  from  this  time  forth,  wore  his  triple  crown 
with  greater  security.  It  is  true,  indeed,  that  Zwingli  also 
handed  in  a  confession  of  faith  at  the  Imperial  Diet,  but  only 
in  defence,  not  to  force  it  upon  others.  He  expressly  said,  in 
the  letter  to  the  Emperor,  which  accompanied  it:  "I  alone  de- 


320  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

liver  it,  without  encroaching  on  the  rights  of  my  people."  Ac- 
cording to  his  view  the  Gospel  only  is  unassailable.  What- 
ever of  true  or  false  man  adds  to  the  interpretation  of  the  Divine 
law,  he  does  it  on  his  own  responsibility.  With  this  view  tole- 
rance and  love,  as  well  as  progressive  science,  are  possible;  all 
others  lead  to  stiffness  and  intolerance,  and  such  was  the  result 
then  on  all  sides.  Or  is  it  perchance  an  evangelical  spirit,  which 
breathes  in  Calvin's  article:  ^'That  the  heretic  should  be  pun- 
ished with  death,"  and  in  the  funeral  pile  of  Servetus  ?  W^ere 
the  rack-chambers  of  Queen  Elizabeth*  much  more  Christian 
than  the  dragonades  of  Louis  XIV.,  and  did  Ireland  live  more 
happily  under  the  yoke  of  a  High  Church  forced  upon  her, 
than  Spain  under  the  Inquisition?  Were  the  persecutions  be- 
gun at  the  Synod  of  Dort,  justified  by  the  anathemas,  with 
which  the  Council  of  Trent  disgraced  itself? 

All  have  erred.  Instead  of  kindling  new  passions,  the  call 
of  our  age  goes  forth,  to  unite  rather  in  a  common  acknowledg- 
ment of  sin.  This  is  the  confession  in  which  all  can  again  find 
themselves;  but  the  Gospel  is  the  light  that  shows  the  way  to  re- 
conciliation. What  is  there  yet  to  hinder  it  ?  Two  enemies,  and 
in  two  verses  a  spirited  poet  (Goethe)  has  thus  portrayed  them : 

Thou  must  reign  through  victory, 
Or  a  servant  kneel  and  lose, 
Suffering  or  triumph  choose, 
Th'  anvil  or  the  hammer  bo. 

This  is  the  one ;  the  principle  of  the  absolutist,  in  a  spiritual 
or  worldly  mantle;  and  the  other,  the  principle  of  the  demar 
gogue  in  the  Jacobin's  cap,  as  well  as  in  the  Jesuit's  garb,  forms 
the  counter-part : 

'Tis  foolish  to  wait  for  improvement  in  fools; 

Ye  children  of  prudence,  0  make  them  your  tools. 

*  Lingard's  History  of  England,  Vol.  VIII.  Ch.  3  and  6. 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  321 

Of  such  wisdom  the  Gospel  knows  nothing;  it  demands  fra- 
ternal assistance  and  love,  and  does  not  permit  rank  without 
humility,  requiring  from  those,  who  stand  in  the  highest  places, 
subordination  under  God.  Perhaps  (for  who  can  fathom  the 
ways  of  Providence 'r* )  the  adherents  of  the  above-named  princi- 
ples will  yet  again  reach  out  the  hand  of  friendship  to  each  other. 
Then  will  begin  the  last,  severest  battle;  but  the  Gospel 
must  triumph,  for  the  Church  of  Christ,  under  her  one,  Divine 
Head,  perpetually  revealing  himself  in  history  and  the  power 
of  love,  is  founded  upon  a  rock;  then  also  will  all  human 
order  be  custom  refined  by  science  and  ennobled  by  art  and 
nature,  a  unity  in  substance,  with  endless  diversity  in  form — 
the  adversary  of  all  revolutions. 


CHAPTER    EIGHTH 


INTERNAL  CONDITION  OF  SWITZERLAND    AFTER  THE  FIRST  CAMPAIGN. 

THE    ABBOT    OF  SAINT  GALL.       POLITICAL    RESULTS    OF    THE 

MARBURG    CONFERENCE. 

WINGLT'S  absence  liad  lasted 
seven  weeks,  from  the  3d  of  Septem- 
ber to  the  19th  of  October,  1529. 
On  his  return  home,  he  did  not 
find  the  country  in  that  peaceful 
condition,  which  the  well-disposed 
and  the  short-sighted  had  hoped 
conclusion  of  the  Landfriede  (General 
Peace),  and  his  arrival  in  no  wise  tended  to  lessen 
the  agitation.  The  Landfriede  granted  the  choice 
of  their  own  ecclesiastical  system  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Common  Territories.  Where  the  mass  had 
been  abolished  and  images  burned  or  carried  away, 
according  to  its  letter,  they  who  did  these  things 
could  not  be  punished,  either  in  person,  standing 
or  property;  but  just  as  little,  on  the  other  hand,  in  places 
where  they  still  existed,  could  those  who  preached  a  different 
doctrine  enter,  until  invited  by  a  majority  of  the  parishioners. 
Special  conferences  between  cantons  were  interdicted,  in  so  far 
as  they  had  reference  to  the  affairs  of  the  Confederacy,  but  al- 
lowed to  those  who  were  authorized  to  transact  business  for  the 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  o23 

Buergerrcclit  and  alliances  of  like  character.  The  following 
injunction  was  issued  by  the  deputies  of  all  the  Thirteen  Can- 
tons: *''In  order  that  we  may  not  be  again  plunged  into  dis- 
union and  greater  discord,  through  reviling  and  recrimination, 
all  and  every  one  shall  be  specially  forbidden,  on  pain  of  severe 
punishment,  to  deal  in  unbecoming  scandal,  wanton,  useless 
and  injurious  words  of  shame,  abuse,  filth  and  insult,  scornful 
expressions,  disparagements  and  tauuts,  such  as  human  inge- 
nuity knows  how  to  devise;  no  one  shall  any  longer  venture  to 
pick  at,  assail  or  blacken  his  neighbor  with  slanders,  books  of 
libel,  prints,  sayinga,  songs,  verses  and  other  means  of  provoca- 
tion ]  but  each  one  shall  suifer  his  neighbor  to  remain  quiet, 
undisturbed  and  in  every  way  unmolested  in  the  enjoyment  of 
peace."  The  summer  of  the  following  year  was  fixed  upon  as 
the  time  of  payment  for  the  indemnity  to  cover  the  additional 
expenses  incurred  by  the  war  and  the  support  of  the  surviving 
relatives  of  the  pastor  Kaiser,  who  was  burned  at  the  stake, 
and  authority  was  given  to  the  Reformed  Cities  to  stop  the  ex- 
port of  provisions  into  the  Five  Cantons,  in  case  of  refusal.  In 
regard  to  the  rents,  tithes  and  revenues  of  the  monasteries  and 
clerical  foundations,  they  could  either  continue  as  heretofore, 
be  allowed  under  changed  conditions,  or  abolished  altogether. 
Every  one  of  these  articles  contained  material  for  a  future  ex- 
plosion. It  was  impossible  to  comply  with  them  fully,  because 
on  the  one  side  a  conviction  of  their  justice  or  expediency  was 
wanting,  and  on  the  other  they  were  considered  as  far  too  lax  in 
their  requirements — because  individual  cases  usually  occurred 
in  such  a  shape  that  their  conditions  were  not  applicable  in 
every  particular,  and  finally,  because  the  embers  of  passion 
still  glowed  in  the  bosoms  of  those  who  were  in  power;  and 
among  the  leaders  of  both  parties,  the  desire  of  carrying  out 
their  own  ecclesiastical  system  or  political  plans  outweighed 
their  interest  in  the  welfare  of  their  common  fatherland. 


324  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Since  Catholic  bailiifs  ruled  in  the  Territories,  who  could 
blame  them  for  watching  anxiously  over  those  communities,  in 
which  the  mass  and  images  were  still  retained,  and  for  striving 
to  prevent  the  entrance  of  Reformed  preaching,  the  influx  of 
Zwiuglian  doctrines  and  writings?  But  who,  on  the  other 
hand,  could  take  umbrage,  if  individual  members  of  congre- 
gations, in  the  wish  to  hear  at  least  the  new  doctrines,  en- 
deavored to  win  over  their  neighbors  and  friends,  and  thus 
gain  a  majority,  in  order  to  call  in  a  preacher?  Such  persons 
generally  turned  to  Zurich,  where  they  found  support,  whilst 
the  bailiffs  made  complaint  of  it  at  the  meetings  of  the  Diet  or 
to  the  Five  Cantons;  nor  did  they  complain  the  less  also  of 
their  fierce  invectives,  mutual  strife  and  immunity  from  pun- 
ishment. Here  the  will  to  punish  was  wanting;  there  the 
power,  especially  if  the  offenders  belonged  to  the  distinguished 
classes,  as  they  frequently  did.  But  the  circumstances  of  the 
abbot  and  monastery  of  St.  Gall  afforded  the  chief  material  for 
a  new  quarrel;  and  these  it  will  be  necessary  now  to  describe 
in  detail. 

The  monastery  of  St.  Gall,  from  its  very  origin,  played  an 
important  part  in  the  history  of  our  fatherland ;  in  the  first 
centuries  by  its  scientific  reputation  as  a  renowned  and  influ- 
ential seminary  of  learning,  and  afterward  on  account  of  its  in- 
creasing possessions,  its  political  influence  and  the  rank  of  its 
abbot  as  a  prince  of  the  empire.  The  abbot  ruled  over  that 
tolerably  extensive  district,  lying  between  Wyl  and  Iloschach, 
on  Lake  Constance,  under  the  title  of  the  "Old  Province,"  and 
also,  from  the  year  1-1G9,  over  the  County  of  Toggenburg,  under 
that  of  the  "Xew  Province."  The  abbacy  of  St.  Gall  consti- 
tuted the  first  and  most  considerable  of  the  so-called  Allied 
Cantons;  its  deputies  appeared  at  the  sessions  of  the  Diet,  and 
its  armed  soldiery  marched  out  with  the  other  confederates  in 
their  wars.     The  Count}'  of  Toggenburg  enjoyed  no  mean  privi- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  325 

leges ;  it  had  the  choosing  of  its  own  general  council  (landrath), 
the  right  of  appointing  lower  courts,  subject,  it  is  true,  to  the 
sanction  of  the  abbot,  and  for  the  protection  of  these  privileges 
stood  under  one  common  law  with  the  states  of  Schwyz  and 
Glarus,  to  which,  at  a  later  period,  the  abbot  also  was  admitted 
for  the  security  of  its  rights.  He  had  also  formed  an  alliance 
with  the  four  states,  Zurich,  Luzern,  Schwyz  and  Glarus,  on 
behalf  of  his  possessions,  by  which  these  cantons  were  pledged 
to  protect  him  and  his  abbey,  with  all  his  subjects,  in  their 
rights  and  liberties.  For  this  service,  half  the  fines  accruing  in 
the  territories  of  St.  Gall  were  paid  over  to  them,  and  the  de- 
pendants of  the  abbot  were  bound  to  obey  their  call  in  time  of 
war.  For  the  exercise  of  these  rights  and  the  performance  of 
their  duties,  the  Four  Cantons,  each  every  two  years  in  suc- 
cession, placed  a  governor-general  at  Wyl,  who  was  ex-of/icio  a 
member  of  the  abbot's  privy  council,  and  took  rank  immediately 
after  him. 

This  position  had  been  filled,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1529,  by  Jacob  Frei,  a  member  of  the  Zurich  Council. 
The  abbot,  Francis  Geissberg,  now  for  a  long  time  an  invalid, 
found  it  entirely  beyond  his  power  to  make  any  effectual  re- 
sistance to  the  attacks,  by  which  he  saw  himself  and  his  monas- 
tery threatened  from  the  city  of  St.  Gall,  his  own  subjects  and 
the  Preformed  Confederacy.  Every  day  the  doctrine  of  the 
unscripturaluess  of  clerical  dominion  gaiped  ground,  and  pene- 
trated even  among  the  brethren  of  the  convent,  a  part  of  whom 
threw  off  their  monkish  garments.  The  majority,  however, 
remained  firm  to  their  vows.  The  abbot,  already  far  gone  in 
dropsy,  had  himself  conveyed  to  Roschach,  where,  in  a  fortified 
castle,  he  was  more  secure  than  in  a  cloister  standing  open  to 
invasion  from  the  burghers  of  St.  Gall.  There,  on  the  21st  of 
March,  he  died,  and  this  was  the  moment  that  Zurich  and  the 
city  of  St.  Gall  had  waited  for,  to  take  measures  against  the 

2§ 


826  LIFE    OF    ZWINCILI. 

monastery  itself,  but  principally  against  its  political  rights. 
Meanwhile  eleven  of  the  monks,  one  month  before,  had  pledged 
themselves  under  a  solemn  oath,  even  on  compulsory  removal 
from  the  cloister,  to  renounce  none  of  the  rights  of  the  convent, 
but  rather  to  uphold  them  in  every  possible  manner.  For  six 
days,  the  death  of  the  abbot  was  kept  secret  even  in  Roschach, 
and  his  food  carried  into  him  as  though  he  were  yet  alive, 
whilst  the  monks  assembled  in  Rapperschweil  and  there  elected 
one  of  their  number,  Kilian  German,  in  his  stead.  The  news 
of  this  action  awakened  the  livliest  displeasure  among  the 
Zurichers,  who  had  relied  on  the  power  of  the  burghers  of  St. 
Gall  to  prevent  it.  But  priestly  cunning  triumphed,  and  Ger- 
man afterward  succeeded  in  obtaining  an  acknowledgment,  first 
from  two  cantons  of  the  protectorate,  Luzern  and  Schwyz,  and 
then  with  much  trouble  from  Glarus  also.  Three  months  later, 
the  election  was  ratified  by  Pope  Clement  the  VII.,  and  proofs 
of  consideration  and  offers  of  any  amount  of  help  received 
from  Austria. 

The  new  abbot,  a  man  of  talent,  descended  from  a  branch 
of  the  distinguished  family  of  the  Toggenburgers,  as  soon  as 
the  choice  had  fallen  on  him,  made  known  his  purpose  plainly, 
not  to  rest  until  he  and  his  convent  had  come  again  into  full 
possession  of  their  rights;  until  the  religious  usages  were  re- 
stored, and  divine  worship  celebrated  after  the  old  mode  in  the 
church  of  the  foundation.  But  just  as  plainly  did  Zurich  and 
St.  Gall  declare  that  this  should  not  be.  The  subjects  of  the 
monastery  were  now  roused  up  by  Zurich,  and  many  in  Tog- 
genburg  began  to  hope  even  for  complete  deliverence  from  all 
foreign  rule.  Reconciliation  had  become  impossible.  In  a  let- 
ter of  advice,  drawn  up  by  Zurich  and  St.  Gall,  it  is  expressly 
said  :  "  blatters  have  come  to  this  pass,  that  either  our  Lords, 
together  with  our  confederates  and  christian  fellow-citizens  of 
St.  Gall  and  the  entire  population  of^ the  abbacy  (^Gottcshau- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI  o27 

schenfe^,  to  whom  our  Lords  have  pledged  life  and  property, 
for  the  ministry  of  the  Divine  Word,  or  else  Sir  Kilian,  the 
pretended  abbot,  must  bend  and  break." 

In  this  business  Zwinf^li  took  a  very  active  part.  His  plans 
in  relation  to  it  were  so  comprehensive  that  he  did  not  look  for 
entire  approval  in  Zurich  herself.  Not  only  were  the  lawful 
claims  of  the  two  cantons,  Luzern  and  Schwyz,  to  a  share  in 
the  deliberations  on  the  afiairs  of  St.  Gall,  wholly  set  aside,  but 
Glarus  also  was  not  to  be  heard,  except  in  so  far  as  she  agreed 
with  Zurich  in  the  fundamental  principle  laid  down  by  him. 
This  principle,  that  all  spiritual  lordship  is  unscriptual,  and 
therefore  unjust — a  principle,  v>duch  he  was  ready  to  avow, 
defend  and  prove  clearly  on  the  field  of  science,  he  carried  over, 
as  already  shown,  into  the  sphere  of  politics  and  wished  to  ap- 
ply it  to  a  treaty  made  in  times,  when  men  knew  nothing  of 
it,  and  with  parties,  who  did  not  even  yet  recognize  it.  Hence 
an  opinion  drawn  up  by  him  has  this  heading :  "  Advice  how 
the  deputies  ought  to  treat,  either  with  or  without  the  deputies 
of  Glarus,  so  that  the  monastery  of  St.  Gall,  its  abbot  and  its 
monks  may  be  surprised,  overcome  and  put  up  at  auction  with 
their  monkhood  and  lordship,  and  knocked  down  to  the  Four 
Cantons."  On  the  margin  is  added:  "Not  to  be  read  before 
the  burghers"  (Great  Council). 

It  was  then  proposed,  in  plain  language,  to  send  full  orders  to 
the  governor-general  to  call  together  the  subjects  of  the  abbey 
everywhere  in  their  several  parishes,  and  announce  to  them  that 
Zurich  was  resolved,  as  far  as  lay  in  her  power,  to  prevent  the 
acknowledgment  of  the  abbot  elect  and  the  choice  of  any  suc- 
cessor ;  since  there  could  be  no  concord  between  monkery  and 
the  Gospel — that  she  had  no  desire  to  invade  the  rights  of  the 
Four  Cantons  in  their  character  of  common  wardens,  and  hence 
would  act  not  merely  in  her  own  name,  but  in  conjunction  with 
Glarus,  in  case  the  latter  were  willing,  with  the  proviso  also  of 


328  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

a  full  report  to  the  other  two  cantons,  "  until  God  would  make 
them  of  the  same  mind" — and,  that  it  was  just  as  much  her 
intention  to  respect  the  rights  of  the  people  of  the  abbacy,  with 
whom  "  she  would  cheerfully  sit  down,  hear  their  grievances  and 
judge  therein  with  moderation  and  dispatch,  as  is  becoming  in 
such  affairs,  meanwhile  pledging  person  and  property  not  to 
suffer  them  to  be  injured  or  oppressed,  so  far  as  life  and  prop- 
erty can  reach.  Let  it  be  known  too  in  what  a  friendly  and 
brotherly  manner  Zurich  and  Glarus  have  ever  behaved  toward 
their  subjects,  and  that  up  to  this  time  their  rule  has  never 
been  dreaded.  Letters  and  seals  should  also  be  prepared, 
which,  if  God  please,  no  one  shall  break  in  all  coming  time. 
All  this  done,  the  serious  question  should  be  put  to  the  people 
of  the  abbacy,  whether  they  will  agree  to  break  up  the  monas- 
tery, and  if  so,  it  shall  be  done  promptly  and  peacefully,  unless 
resistance  is  offered."  It  appears,  however,  that  this  was  not 
anticipated,  for  several  other  doubtful  points  are  added  to  the 
opinion,  with  the  express  injunction  :  "These  must  not  be  made 
known  to  the  people  of  the  abbacy,  until  the  business  is  fin- 
ished." But  if  peaceful  measures  did  not  suffice  to  carry  out 
the  plan,  compulsion  was  to  be  used:  "If  any  one  wishes  to 
light,  an  appeal  for  help  shall  be  made  to  our  confederates  of 
St.  Gall  and  the  people  of  the  abbacy,  and  with  God's  favor  the 
places  shall  be  taken  by  force  of  arms."  As  soon  as  they  are 
taken,  Luzern  and  Schwyz  shall  be  written  to,  and  the  proceed- 
ing justified  on  the  score  of  necessity,  the  hostility  of  the  abbot 
against  Zurich,  and  the  urgent  need  of  the  people  of  the  ab- 
bacy. Meanwhile  those  monks,  who  can  be  caught,  shall  be 
thrown  into  prison,  a  thorough  search  made,  inventories  drawn 
up,  and  "  if  the  treasure  cannot  be  found,  the  monks  who  know 
anything  about  it,  shall  be  further  questioned  upon  oath,  until 
the  whole  truth  come  to  light.  When  everything  is  finished 
and  sealed  before  the  government  at  Zurich,  the  people  of  the 


LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI.  329 

abbacy  shall  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  whilst  Toggenburg  is 
silenced  by  hopes  of  gi-eater  freedom.'^  In  fine,  the  opinion 
gives  it  as  the  aim  of  all  these  counsels,  "  that  the  monk  may 
no  longer  be  a  stallion  to  beget  more  of  his  kind,  but  bridled, 
harnessed  and  taught  to  obey  the  rein.'^ 

This  plan  was  certainly  radical,  but  not  evangelical.  It  was 
not  possible  that  Luzern  and  Schwyz ;  not  possible  that  the  Cath- 
olic cantons  generally,  could  suffer  these  violations  of  Confeder- 
ate faith,  and  of  sealed  treaties  to  pass  by  unheeded.  And 
Glarus,  although  the  majority  of  her  people  sympathized  in 
Zwingli's  views  of  the  unscriptual  character  of  spiritual  lord- 
ship, and  were  by  no  means  favorable  to  the  abbot  and  his  rule, 
nevertheless  felt  hurt  by  the  arlntrary  action  of  Zurich  and  the 
air  of  guardianship  which  she  assumed  even  toward  her. 

Bern  also  was  far  from  sharing  in  the  unbridled  zeal  of  her 
sister  city  on  the  Limath,  whose  intervention  in  the  affairs  of 
St.  Gall  was  not  the  least  among  the  reasons,  that  held  her 
sword  in  the  scabbard,  during  the  first  campaign,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  the  year  1529.  But  then  Zurich  endeavored  to  defend 
the  steps  she  had  taken  against  the  abbot  by  the  articles  of  the 
Landfriede;  this  treaty,  it  was  said,  would  secure  the  city  of 
St.  Gall  from  punishment  for  what  she  had  permitted  in  regard 
to  the  monastery,  for  its  occupation,  the  disorders  which  had 
ensued,  and  the  removal  of  the  images  from  the  churches,  as 
well  as  confirm  and  guarantee  peace  to  those  parishes  in  Too-- 
genburg,  where  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  a  synodical 
rule  had  been  introduced  by  the  advice  of  Zwingli.  The  po- 
litical relations,  both  of  the  people  of  the  abbacy  and  of  the 
Toggenburgers  remained  in  an  unsettled  state.  Had  the  Five 
Cantons  known  it,  they  never  would  have  approved  of  conditions, 
by  which  the  abbot  could  be  deprived  of  his  territorial  rights. 

During  the  campaign  he  had  fled  to  Bregenz  and  Ueberling- 
en,  carrying  along  i\\Q  archives  and  jewels  of  the  monastery. 

28* 


330  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

With  his  conventuals,  who  had  found  refuge  at  Einsiedeln  in 
Schwyz,  he  kept  up  a  constant  correspondence.  Through  his 
relatives  he  secured  a  devoted  party  in  Toggenburg,  and,  by 
means  of  the  monies  at  his  command,  adherents  in  various  parts 
of  Switzerland  to  undertake  and  further  his  cause.  After  the 
conclusion  of  the  Landfriede  (General  Peace)  he  ventured  to 
return  home  again,  and  even  rode  through  a  portion  of  the 
Zurichan  territory  in  disguise.  Zwingli's  stay  in  Marburg  was 
of  great  service  to  him.  He  furnished  the  different  parishes 
in  Glarus  with  his  authentic  titles.  There  was  a  powerful 
movement  amongst  the  people,  but  the  Reformed  majority  tri- 
umphed in  the  end.  The  deputies  to  a  conference  of  the  four 
protectorate  cantons  at  Wyl  received  a  commission  to  act  in 
harmony  with  Zurich;  but  numbers  of  the  opposite  party 
withdrew  reluctantly  from  the  assembly,  lamenting  ^'  that  old 
letters  and  seals  had  no  more  value,  since  many  a  Saint  Friedli* 
hung  miserable,  naked  and  bare  on  the  rolls  of  parchment." 

At  this  conference  of  the  protectorate  cantons  held  at  Wyl, 
the  abbot  wished  to  conduct  his  cause  in  person.  Zurich,  to 
whom  his  absence  was  all-important,  sent  an  order  to  the  gov- 
ernor-general secretly  to  fill  the  castle  with  a  garrison  of  trusty 
men.  Kilian,  learning  this  and  fearing  an  ambuscade,  staid 
away;  but  the  people  of  the  abbacy  appeared  before  the  deputies 
of  the  cantons  with  a  petition,  which  showed  that  they  knew 
how  to  carry  out  the  doctrine  of  the  unscriptural  character  of 
spiritual  lordship  to  a  further  extent  than  was  pleasant  even 
to  Zurich  herself.  "Accordingly,  since  the  Holy  Word  of 
God  does  not  direct  or  oblige  us,  we  do  not  wish  henceforth  to 
have  this  or  any  other  abbot;  and  because  we  are  without 
court  or  council,  and  so  exposed  to  outrage  that  no  one  scarcely 
is  safe,  we  desire  permission  to  have  a  chief-bailiff,  a  court,  a 
council  and  similar  officers  of  our  oicn,  so  that  crime  may  be 

*  The  image  of  St.  Fridolin,  in  the  cantonal  seal  of  Glarus. 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  831 

puuished,  the  peaceful  and  good  protected,  evil-doers  suppressed, 
and  a  happy  life  led;  for,  as  we  pay  rents  and  tithes  we  ought 
not  to  be  left  without  law;  and  that  you  may  see  we  do  not 
ask  for  anything  unreasonable,  aged  persons  can  yet  be  found, 
who  remember  that  such  a  chief-bailiff  and  council,  as  we  now 
desire,  formerly  existed  among  the  people  of  the  abbacy/' 

None  of  the  Four  Cantons  was  at  all  willing  to  grant  this 
petition.  The  deputies  of  Luzern  and  Schwyz  simply  defended 
the  rights  of  the  abbot,  complained  to  the  Zurichers  of  the 
tyrannical  proceeding  of  their  governor-general  and  requested 
the  removal  of  the  garrison  from  the  castle.  Zurich  and  Glarus 
endeavored  to  quiet  the  people  of  the  abbacy  by  promising  to 
send  home  a  report  and  afterward  to  communicate  the  views  of 
their  governments.  The  resolution  now  passed  by  the  privy 
council  of  Zurich  plainly  unfolds  its  policy  in  this  affair. — 
^  Whereas  you,  our  worthy  deputies/'  so  it  reads,  "cannot  but 
see  and  regard  the  petition  of  the  people  of  the  abbacy  as  a 
desire,  under  show  of  a  good  spirit,  to  obtain  the  liberty  of 
the  flesh,  to  shake  off  authority,  to  lay  hold  of  the  rein  with 
their  own  hands  and  appropriate  to  themselves  power  and  rule, 
and  the  administration  of  the  higher  oflSces;  and  as  you  also 
cannot  presume,  that  either  you  or  we  of  the  two  cantons 
(Zurich  and  Glarus)  have  a  right  to  act  in  this  matter  without 
the  knowledge  and  approval  of  the  other  cantons;  you  will 
perceive  that  it  is  not  advisable  to  grant  them,  just  at  this  time, 
a  chief  bailiff,  judge,  council  and  high  courts  of  dignity  and 
appeal;  we  are  only  able,  in  order  that  they  may  have  no  reason 
to  complain  about  justice  and  law,  to  allow  them  now,  in  the 
beginning,  to  fill  the  lower  courts,  as  they  have  come  down 
from  antiquity,  with  honest,  upright,  sensible  and  God-loving 
men,  but  the  principal  posts  of  government,  the  high  offices, 
to  which  sovereignty  pertains,  must  continue  as  they  are,  until 
it  is  seen  what  course  the  abbot  and  the  two  cantons,  who  sup- 


332  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

port  him,  will  take."  It  was  then  proposed,  to  place  the  chief 
power  in  the  hands  of  the  governor-general  for  the  interim,  to 
associate  with  him  for  this  purpose  able  men,  and  appoint  them 
a  court  of  appeal  in  judicial  cases;  but  for  the  final  settlement 
of  aflfairs,  to  call  together  a  second  conference  of  the  four  pro- 
tectorate cantons,  and  should  Luzern  and  Schwyz  refuse  to  take 
part  in  it,  to  signify  to  them,  that  they  were  determined  to 
proceed  without  them/'  It  is  then  to  be  presumed,"  continues 
the  letter  of  advice  to  the  deputies,  "if  they  thus  see,  that  the 
abbot  cannot  be  restored,  they  will  quietly  agree  with  us  of  the 
two  cantons  to  take  charge  of  the  government.  But  should 
they  persevere  in  their  opposition  and  attempt  to  use  any  force  on 
behalf  of  the  abbot  against  our  purpose  and  that  of  the  honest 
people,  it  will  then  be  our  duty  to  curb  force  with  force,  until 
honest  people,  perchance  our  Confederates  of  Bern  and  others 
shall  interpose  and  help  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace.  And  then 
indeed  it  will  be  discovered,  whose  shall  be  the  rule  and  au- 
thority, and  who  shall  be  lord  or  servant,  and  thereby  the  desire 
for  self-government  among  the  people  of  the  abbac}-  shall  be 
broken  and  every  thing  rightly  settled,  ordered  and  secured  by 
charter,  how  and  in  what  form,  henceforth,  court,  law,  dignities, 
offices  and  all  authorities  shall  be  held,  and  how  and  what 
grievances  shall  be  redressed  for  the  honest  people." 

Zurich  acted  from  this  time  forward,  in  accordance  with 
these  views,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year,  after  Luzern  and 
Schwyz  had  repeatedly  declined  to  take  part  in  a  second  con- 
ference, she  issued,  in  connection  with  Glarus,  an  ordinance, 
of  which  the  following  is  the  substance:  "Henceforth  the 
governor-general  is  the  chief  ruler  of  the  abbey-territory.  As 
heretofore  he  shall  be  appointed  for  a  term  of  two  years  by  each 
of  the  four  protectorate  cantons  in  succession.  lie  shall  take  an 
oath  to  favor  the  Divine  AVord  and  protect  the  same.  Only 
then  are  his  subjects  bound  to  obey  him.    This  governor  is  to  be 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  333 

supreme  judge,  instead  of  the  imperial  bailiff.  The  high  court 
shall  cousist,  besides  him,  of  twelve  men,  of  whom  he  has  the 
selection  of  four,  and  the  territory  of  the  other  eight.  In  con- 
junction with  these,  or  a  majority  of  them,  he  shall  appoint  also 
the  oiScers  of  the  territory.  The  parishes  shall  be  left  free  to 
choose  their  own  preachers,  who,  however,  must  be  examined 
and  approved,  either  at  Zurich,  St.  Gall  or  Constance.  Only 
with  the  consent  of  the  governor  and  the  twelve  can  they  be 
removed,  or  suspended  from  office.  Rents,  tithes  and  other 
lawful  taxes,  which  are  to  be  applied  according  to  a  former  re- 
solution, shall  be  paid  over  to  a  receiver,  appointed  by  the  city 
of  St.  Gall,  who  shall  render  a  faithful  account  of  the  same. 
Whatever  unchristian  burdens  have  been  laid  upon  the  poor  in- 
habitants by  superstition  or  monkish  rule,  shall  be  abolished, 
and  in  order  that  the  honest  people  may  be  the  better  able  to 
help  the  poor  in  these  dear  times,  the  two  cantons  cheerfully 
authorize  them  to  appropriate  the  ornaments  and  jewels  of  the 
churches  to  this  more  christian  purpose." 

In  vain  did  the  abbot  protest  against  these  arrangements;  in 
vain  did  he  threaten  to  look  out  for  other  protectorate  cantons; 
in  vain  did  he  beg  for  active  interference  on  the  part  of  Luzern 
and  Schwyz.  Still  discouraged  by  the  untoward  issue  of  the 
first  campaign,  they  advised  him  to  yield  for  a  while,  in  hope 
that  affairs  would  take  a  more  favorable  turn,  and  indeed  thought 
it  best  that  he  should  withdraw  for  a  time.  This  he  did,  and 
went  to  Ueberlingen,  where,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1530, 
amid  much  rejoicing,  he  found  the  object  of  his  desires. 

The  proceeding  of  Zurich  against  the  abbot  and  the  monas- 
tery was  carried  on  mainly  by  Zwingli;  and  that  with  increased 
zeal  since  his  return  to  the  fatherland.  More  and  more,  after 
the  Marburg  Conference,  did  he  display  the  character  of  a 
politician — sometimes  daring  in  the  choice  of  his  means.  Thus 
he  was  to  show  himself  to  be  only  a  man;  and,  as  the  most  in- 


334  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

fluential  statesmen  are  very  often  obliged  to  do,  as  a  vehement 
man ;  forever  striking  must  tlie  contrast  remain  between  the 
greatest  of  all  ages  and  all  countries,  and  Him,  who  was  indeed 
tempted  in  all  things  like  as  we  are,  but  who  alone  was  never 
overcome. 

Without  doubt  the  Savior  of  the  world  directed  his  attention 
to  political  life,  and  Christianity  and  politics  are  in  no  wise 
antagonistic.  On  the  contrary,  it  is  the  aim  of  Christianity  to 
elevate  and  ennoble  even  earthly  relations;  it  is  the  true  reli- 
gion of  the  people.  No  saying  is  so  misunderstood,  so  entirely 
twisted  from  its  real  meaning,  as  that  uttered  by  Christ:  ''My 
kingdom  is  not  of  this  world."  This  earth,  the  theatre  of 
divine  love  and  power,  is  represented  as  a  vale  of  tears — a 
welcome  doctrine  to  all  secular  and  spiritual  lords,  who,  through 
its  spread,  have  only  the  less  opposition  to  fear  against  their 
iron  rule;  and,  only  the  more  secure  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
state,  agree  in  making  it  truly  an  abode  of  sorrow  to  millions 
of  their  subjects.  There  is  no  doubt  that  Christianity  teaches 
us  to  bear  and  suifcr;  no  doubt  that  it  says:  ''Whosoever  shall 
smite  thee  on  the  right  cheek,  turn  to  him  the  other  also,"  and 
^'whosoever  shall  compel  thee  to  go  with  him  one  mile,  go  with 
him  twain;"  no  doubt  that  it  teaches  the  duty  of  submission  to 
rulers,  and  has  no  sympathy  with  rebellion  and  self-aid,  by  re- 
sort to  arms;  yet  far  more  strongly  and  impressively  does  this 
same  Christianity  speak  to  magistrates  and  rulers,  and  tell  them 
►  that  men  are  not  born  lords  and  slaves,  but  brethren,  and  that 
they  are  the  greatest  who  are  the  servants  of  all.  Christianity 
wishes  no  forms  of  government,  nor  will  it  make  them  lawful,  yea 
necessary,  whilst  overgrown  wealth  may  find  out  means  to  chain 
down  despairing  poverty,  by  which  reckless  debauchery  may 
riot  in  palaces,  whilst  iu  the  hut,  hard  by,  the  restless  laborer 
cannot  earn  bread  enough  to  prolong  his  miserable  existence. 
It  will  have  the  right  to  moderate  enjoyment  purchased  by  self- 


LIFE    OP    ZWINOLI.  3r>5 

control  and  self-denial,  and  the  capability  to  govern  proven  by 
the  capability  and  practice  of  obedience;  along  with  greater 
rights  it  places  greater  duties ;  with  greater  advantages  it  in- 
variably connects  greater  burdens — and  whilst  it  enjoins  sub- 
mission to  God  as  an  equal  duty  upon  all,  it  does  not  make 
order  in  the  state  rest  upon  parchments  or  voluminous  codes 
of  laws,  upon  standing  armies  or  public  prisons,  but  upon  the 
law  written  in  the  heart,  upon  love  and  a  sense  of  duty. 

Whether  the  time  has  ever  arrived  in  any  single  country  for 
sucha  transformation  of  politics,  such  a  religious  consecration 
of  the  forms  of  public  life,  is  quite  another  question.  That  it 
did  not  exist  in  the  days  of  Christ,  that  the  seed  was  then  only 
planted  in  the  earth,  to  spring  up  afterward,  when  watered  by 
the  noblest  blood,  he  himself  has  acknowledged  and  declared ; 
but  that  the  hour  will  yet  come,  when  the  grain  of  mustard-seed 
will  grow  up  into  a  great  tree  and  overshadow  all  the  earth  with 
its  branches,  he  has  also  proclaimed;  and  happy  the  rulers, 
happy  the  law-givers,  who  have  power  to  understand  their  great 
mission  in  the  light  of  true  Christianity.  Why  was  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  the  Reformers  hailed  with  such  universal  joy,  their 
annunciation  of  the  Grospel  with  such  hosannas,  by  the  people  ? 
Because  the  presentiment  had  been  awakened  in  millions  of 
hearts  that  the  day  of  freedom  was  dawning  and  the  hour  of 
their  deliverance  from  spiritual  and  corporeal  bondage  had  ar- 
rived. But  what  could  liberty  do  for  minors,  who  had  been 
neglected  for  centuries,  for  the  uneducated,  for  congregations 
without  schools  and  incapable  of  comprehending  the  better  re- 
ligious instniction,  which  made  but  slow  progress  from  the  lack 
of  qualified  teachers?  Fanatics,  like  the  leaders  of  the  Ana- 
baptists, took  hold  of  their  excited  minds  and  caused  Luther 
and  Zwingli  to  tremble  at  the  consequences  of  their  own  bold- 
ness. The  bands  which  were  loosened,  were  partly  drawn 
tighter  again  by  Luther  in  monarchical  Germany,  in  that  he 


336  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

adhered  the  firmer  to  belief  upon  authority*,  and  by  Zwingll  in 
republican  Switzerland,  in  that,  from  the  man  of  the  people,  ho 
became  the  man  of  the  government.  Moreover  the  necessary 
enthusiasm  among  the  people  died  away,  till  an  hour  of  later 
trial,  and  it  became  an  easier  thing  for  the  active  enemies  of 
the  Reformation  to  awaken  repentance  in  some,  produce  indif- 
ference in  others,  and  win  over  individuals  by  means  of  pro- 
mises. To  the  subjects  of  the  abbot  they  used  language  like 
this:  "What  do  you  gain  by  casting  off  allegiance  to  your 
former  sovereign,  when  you  only  get  a  severer  one  in  his  stead  ? 
Far  more  seldom  does  an  ecclesiastical  government  call  out  its 
people  to  war;  it  gives  a  more  efficient  support  to  the  poor; 
it  does  not  lessen,  nay  rather  increases  the  number  of  holidays; 
preaches  no  austere  and  gloomy  morality ;  is  patient  and  long-suf- 
fering, provided  only  no  attack  be  made  upon  the  faith."  There 
were  not  a  few,  who  lent  open  ears  to  such  appeals.  At  a  con- 
ference between  their  deputies  and  those  of  the  Glarners  at 
Wyl,  the  Zurichers  were  obliged  to  feel  this.  Envoys  came 
also  from  Luzern  and  Schwyz,  and  the  newly  reviving  party 
of  the  old  faith  rallied  around  them.  Then  arose  a  tumult 
among  the  latter,  and  for  a  mom.ent  the  danger  was  so  great 
that  the  Glarners  meditated  flight,  but  the  Zurichers  ordered 
an  alarm  to  be  sounded.  The  people  ran  in  from  all  sides,  and 
the  majority  was  found  favorable  to  the  Reformation,  at  least 
not  hostile  to  Zurich.  This  soon  appeared  in  their  language 
and  behavior.  A  treaty  was  now  concluded  between  the  parties, 
and  the  provisional  government  of  the  Zurich  captain  acknowl- 
edged and  guaranteed  by  a  permanent  garrison  of  trusty  soldiers 
in  the  castle.  But  Luzern  and  Schwyz  renowned  their  com- 
plaints before  a  conference  of  the  Five  Cantons,  and  it  was  re- 

*  Belief,  at  the  command  of  the  church,  even  without  personal  con- 
viction. 


LIFE    OP    ZWINGLI.  337 

solved  to  appeal  to  Bern  with  a  full  representation  of  the  faith- 
less conduct  of  Zurich  in  the  affair  of  St.  Gall,  and  an  earnest 
protest  against  it.  Two  skillful  orators,  the  schultheiss  Golder 
of  Luzern,  and  Joseph  Amberg  of  Schwjz,  were  commissioned 
to  do  this.  Thej  behaved  with  great  propriety  and  moderation, 
promising,  on  their  part,  a  careful  guard  over  their  own  people, 
and  a  strict  observance  of  the  Landfriede:  "Dear  Confeder- 
ates," so  they  said  at  the  close  of  their  speech,  "we  place  in 
your  hands  our  fate,  as  well  as  our  rights.  Both  we  believe 
have  been  grossly  violated  by  the  conduct  of  Zurich.  If  we 
are  wrong,  then  point  out  to  us  the  rulej  if  the  men  of  Zurich, 
then  will  you  not  be  willing  to  support  them  in  it;  but  believe 
not  us  alone,  hear  also  the  men  of  Zurich;  believe  not  them 
alone,  hear  us  also.  Indeed !  we  only  desire  to  abide  by  sealed 
treaties.''  Haller,  who  immediately  reported  it  to  Zwingli, 
did  not  conceal  from  him  the  fearful  impression,  which  this 
speech  made  upon  public  opinion.  "  They  have  not,"  he  added 
with  anxiety,  "yet  deceived  us;  but  they  will-"  But  it  was 
not  merely  the  affair  of  St.  Gall,  which  began  to  awaken  dis- 
cord in  the  relations  between  Zurich  and  Bern.  There  was 
something  far  more  important  still.  And  here  it  becomes  nec- 
essary to  give  a  general  sketch  of  the  political  views,  which 
Zwingli  had  brought  back  from  Marburg. 

The  Emperor  Charles  V.,  after  an  absence  of  several  years  in 
Spain,  returned  to  Italy  in  the  summer  of  1529.  In  Genoa, 
where  he  landed,  he  was  met  by  an  embassy  from  the  landgrave 
Philip  and  the  German  Estates  who  had  signed  the  Protest 
against  the  resolutions  of  the  Imperial  Diet  of  Spire.  This 
they  were  commissioned  to  hand  over  to  him  with  respectful 
representations.  But  so  ill  was  it  received,  that  the  envoys  for 
a  time  were  concerned  for  their  personal  safety.  Audacious  in 
the  highest  degree  mu-st  this  step  of  a  few  princes  and  cities 
have   appeared   to  the  head  of  the  Empire,  to  him,  who,  not 

29 


388  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

many  years  before,  had  humbled,  by  the  defeat  of  Pavia,  the 
mighty  King  of  France,  whose  sous  he  still  held  in  a  Spanish 
prison  as  hostages  for  the  father,  who  was  set  at  liberty — him, 
who  had  caused  the  Pope  even  to  feel  his  power,  but  was  now 
reconciled  to  Rome,  and  offered  his  aid  for  the  more  energetic 
suppression  of  all  ecclesiastical  innovations  in  Germany.  Sur- 
rounded by  Spanish  counsels,  by  the  clergy  of  that  nation  and 
Italians,  he  was  busily  engaged  in  forming  various  plans  for 
future  action,  and  only  lingered  yet  in  Italy,  until  he  could  be 
crowned  lloman  Emperor,  by  Clement  11. ,  which  event  occurred 
at  Bologna  on  the  24th  of  February,  1530.  Meanwhile  reports, 
warnings  of  the  coming  tempest  having  reached  Germany  and 
Switzerland,  produced  an  active  correspondence  between  the 
Protestant  princes,  the  landgrave  Philip,  Duke  Ulric  of  Wur- 
temberg  and  the  authorities  of  the  more  important  cities.  A 
personal  interchange  of  opinions  took  place  at  Marburg,  and  the 
danger  which  threatened  the  free  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and  the 
lleformation  was  acknow^ledged  on  all  sides,  even  by  Luther  and 
Melanchthon ;  but  as  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  so 
now  also,  on  the  field  of  politics,  Luther  and  Zwingli  stood  de- 
cidedly opposed  to  each  other,  and  so  little  did  the  former  share 
in  the  bold  views  of  the  latter,  that  the  enterprising  landgrave 
wholly  despaired  of  an  understanding  with  Luther,  and  com- 
municated his  plan  of  resistance  against  the  Emperor  first  of  all 
to  a  narrow  circle,  composed  of  Zwingli,  Sturm  and  a  few  trusty 
friends  of  like  mind. 

The  Saxon  Reformer  had,  it  is  true,  approved  of  the  protest, 
made  by  the  princes  and  cities  favorable  to  the  Gospel,  against 
the  resolutions  of  the  Imperial  Diet  at  Spire,  but  to  go  further, 
to  offer  actual  resistance,  he  regarded  as  unlawful.  He  saw  in 
Charles  the  consecrated  head  of  the  Empire,  to  take  up  arms 
against  whom  appeared  to  him  rebellion.  It  had  first  to  be 
proved  to  him  by  lawyers,  belter  acquainted  with  the  Imperial 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  339 

Constitution  than  lie,  that  the  individual  Estates  of  the  Empire 
had  full  authority  to  preserve  their  independence  in  spiritual 
matters,  in  every  possible  way,  and  then  only  did  he  yield  a  re- 
luctant consent  to  the  league  afterward  formed  among  the  Prot- 
estants at  Schmalkald.  He  was  strongly  opposed  to  inviting 
the  Swiss  to  take  part  in  it,  until  they  were  reconciled  to  his 
view  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  More  genial  than  Zwingli,  trained 
to  implicit  obedience  in  the  monastery,  in  earlier  life  a  hard 
student  of  the  church-fathers;  whilst  the  Switzer  in  those 
years,  when  the  most  vivid  and  lasting  impressions  are  made, 
had  devoted  his  attention  to  the  history  of  the  ancient  republics, 
the  study  of  Roman  and  Grecian  authors;  Luther,  although  he 
publicly  and  resolutely  condemned  the  severity  and  arbitrary 
conduct  of  princes,  and  warned  them  with  boldness  and  power, 
was  yet  far  more  inclined  to  the  doctrine  of  passive  resistance 
against  evil,  the  disarming  of  the  enemy  by  innocent  suffering, 
submil^ion  to  every  existing  form  of  government,  even  though 
unjust  and  tyrannical — a  doctrine  which  lies  in  the  spirit  of  the 
Gospel,  and  was  not  only  preached  but  practised  by  Christ  him- 
self, and  confirmed  by  his  own  example.  It  is  worth  our  while  to 
hear  the  two  Reformers  on  this  fundamental  point.  Their 
peculiar  views  of  it  have  naturally  influenced  their  judgment  in 
political  matters. 

"It  is  the  law  of  Christ,"  says  Luther,  "not  to  resist  evil,  not 
to  grasp  the  sword,  not  to  defend  ourselves,  not  to  revenge  our- 
selves, but  to  give  up  life  and  property,  that  he  may  take,  who 
will.  For  we  have  yet  enough  remaining  in  our  Lord,  who 
will  not  forsake  us,  since  he  hath  so  promised.  Sufferiuo-,  suf- 
fering— the  cross,  the  cross  is  the  law  of  Christ;  this  and 
nothing  else.  Will  ye  thus  fight  and  not  agree  to  let  the  coat 
go  with  the  cloak,  but  try  to  get  back  the  cloak  again,  though 
you  should  wish  rather  to  die  and  leave  the  body,  than  not  to 
love  your  enemies  and  do  them  good  ?     0  ye  easy  Christians ! 


340  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

Dear  fricnrls^  Christicans  are  not  so  common,  that  they  can  be 
gathered  in  a  heap ;  a  Christian  is  a  rare  bird !  Would  to  God 
the  most  of  us  were  only  good,  pious  heathen,  observhig  the 
natural,  to  say  nothing  of  the  Christian  law  I  Christians  are 
not  to  fight  for  themselves  with  the  sword  or  harquebusses,  but 
with  the  cross  and  patience ;  even  as  their  general,  Christ,  does 
not  wield  the  sword,  but  hangs  upon  the  cross.  Hence  their 
victory  does  not  lie  in  conquest  and  dominion  or  power,  but  in 
defeat  and  weakness,  as  St.  Paul  says :  '•  The  weapons  of  our 
warfare  are  not  carnal,  but  in  Grod,"  and  again,  "  His  strength 
shall  be  made  perfect  in  our  weakness."  According  to  the 
Scripture,  it  is  not  proper  for  any  one,  who  will  be  a  Christian, 
to  set  himself  up  against  the  authority,  which  Grod  has  placed 
over  him,  be  it  just  or  unjust;  but  a  Christian  should  suffer 
violence  and  wrong,  especially  from  his  sovereign;  for  although 
Imperial  Majesty  does  wrong  and  violates  duty  and  oath,  his 
imperial  sovereignty  is  not  thereby  abolished,  nor  the  allegiance 
of  his  subjects,  as  long  as  the  realm  and  the  Electoral  Princes 
regard  him  as  Emperor  and  do  not  depos.e  him.  Yet  though 
pn  emperor  or  prince  break  all  the  commandments  of  God,  he 
still  remains  an  emperor  and  prince,  and  is  bound  to  God  by 
oath  in  a  higher,  and  then  to  man  in  a  lower  degree.  Were  it 
right  to  resist  Imperial  Majesty  when  it  does  wrong,  then  we 
might  do  so  in  all  cases,  and  remain  without  any  authority  or 
any  obedience  in  the  world,  since  every  subject  could  use  this 
argument,  that  his  sovereign  broke  the  laws  of  God.  How  then 
shall  we  act  ?  Thus  shall  we  act :  Let  it  be  granted  to  Imperial 
INIajesty,  that  no  prince  or  lord  shall  defend  us  against  him,  but 
that  the  land  and  people  lie  open  to  the  Emperor  as  his  own, 
and  God  commands  this,  and  no  one  should  desire  otherwise  of 
his  princes  and  lords.  Every  one  should  then  stand  for  him- 
self and  maintain  his  faith  at  the  risk  of  his  body  and  his  life, 
and  not  drag  the  princes  into  danger  with  him,  or  trouble  them 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  341 

with  petitions  for  aid,  but  let  the  Emperor  do  with  his  own  as 
he  will,  so  long  as  he  is  Emperor.  But  if  the  Emperor  desire, 
beyond  that,  though  the  land  and  people  lie  open  to  him,  to 
compel  the  princes  also  to  attack,  besiege,  slay  and  banish  their 
subjects  for  the  Gospel's  sake,  and  the  princes  know  that  in 
this  the  Emperor  is  wrong,  and  against  God,  then  it  falls  back 
upon  their  own  faith,  for  they  should  not  obey  the  Emperor,  in 
what  they  do  not  approve,  nor  help  him,  nor  become  partners 
of  his  sin;  it  is  enough  that  the  land  and  people  are  left  un- 
protected and  the  Emperor  unhindered,  and  they  should  say  : 
If  the  Emperor  wishes  to  persecute  our  subjects,  as  they  are 
also  his  own,  he  may  act  according  to  his  conscience;  we  are 
not  able  to  prevent  him.  But  we  will  not  help  him  in  it,  nor 
approve  of  his  course;  for  we  must  obey  God  rather  than 
man.'^  "^ 

In  regard  to  the  impropriety  of  all  individual  resistance  to 
authority,  Zwingli  agreed  with  Luther,  and  just  as  severely 
condemned  everything  that  bore  the  character  of  riot  or  re- 
bellion; but  entertained,  on  the  other  hand,  far  more  liberal 
views  concerning  the  rights  of  the  people,  in  their  collective 
capacity,  against  their  rulers;  and  here,  supported  by  passages 
from  the  Old  Testament,  whilst  Luther  relied  exclusively  on 
the  New,  he  developed  a  theory  (an  assemblage  of  propositions), 
which  must  have  no  doubt  appeared  suspicious  to  the  German 
Beformers,  living  as  they  did  under  monarchical  forms  of  gov- 
ernment, and  indeed,  just  as  readily  as  his  freer  exposition  of 
the  words  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  might  have  called  forth  that 
saying  of  Luther  :  "  You  have  quite  another  spirit  than  we." 

''Where  a  prince  is  overbearing  and  a  wanton  spendthrift," 
so  he  writes,  "and  the  people  undutiful  and  devoted  to  their 
own  advantage,  there  tumults  break  out.  But  this  also  does 
not  happen  without  that  Divine  Providence,  which  has  nmn- 

*  Luther's  Works  by  Pfitzer.  p.  795,  796,  829,  830. 

20* 


342  LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

bered  all  the  hairs  of  our  heads,  acd  by  which  the  wantonness 
of  the  tyrant  and  the  recklessness  of  the  people  are  alike  con- 
trolled.    A  seditious  people  are  led  only  by  wild  passions;  by 
rage  and  fury,  not  by  reason.     Eulers  should  then  take  care 
not  to  give  occasion  to  the  people  to  rebel.     If  they  are  truly 
wise  and  God-fearing,  if  they  practice  justice  and  equity,  then 
God  will  not  give  them  up  to  the  wrath  of  the  multitude ;  for 
He  is  mightier  than  they  and  does  not  forsake  them,  who  tmst 
in  him  and  serve  him.     And  we  must  warn  the  people  also  not 
to  plunge  themselves  into  ruin  by  sedition.     Tumults  are  gen- 
erally excited  by  those  who  aspire  after  honors  and  riches. 
Now,  that  it  may  not  seem  as  if  Christians  care  more  for  the 
human  than  the  divine,  they  should  obey  even  tyrants  in  things, 
that  only  oppress  the  body,  and  pay  taxes  to  them,  so  that  the 
Gospel  may  not  be  reviled  on  their  account.     A  whole  nation, 
on  the  other  hand,  can  and  should,  in  a  lawful  manner,  with 
moderation  and  the  fear  of  God,  resist  the  unjust  power  of  the 
tyrant,  and  if  they  do  it  not,  then  will  they  be  punished  by 
God  along  with  the  wicked  prince.     And  how  we  may  deal 
with  such  rulers,  is  shown  by  the  clear  example  of  Saul,  whom 
God  repudiated,  although  he  had  chosen  him  at  first.     Indeed 
if  such  wanton  kings  be  not  thrust  away,  the  whole  nation  will 
be  punished  for  it.      Plence,  when  Manasseh,  King  of  Judah, 
had  done  the  most  wicked  abominations,  "  thus  saith  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel,  Behold  I  am  bringing  such  evil  upon  Jerusalem 
and  Judah,  that  whosoever  heareth  of  it,  both   his  ears  shall 
tingle."     In  short,  if  the  Jews  had  not  suffered  their  King  to 
riot  thus  unpunished,  God  had  not  punished  them.     We  must 
pluck  out  the  offending  eye  and  cut  off  the  diseased  hand  and 
foot.     How  this  is  to  be  done,  it  is  easy  to  observe.     Not  by 
death-blows,  wars,  tumults,  but  by  quite  other  means,  for  God 
hath  called  us  to  peace.     Does  the  king  or  the  lord  of  the  com- 
mon hand  choose  to  do  evil  ?    then  let  the  common  hand  put 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  3-13 

Lim  awaj,  or  be  punished  with  him.  Has  he  been  elected  by 
a  small  number  of  princes?  then  let  those  princes  know  that 
his  wicked  life  can  be  borne  with  no  longer,  and  he  must  be 
deposed.  But  here  the  difficulty  arises  :  the  tyrant  may  rush 
forth  and  murder  them.  That  matters  not;  it  is  far  more 
glorious  to  be  put  to  death  for  well-doing,  according  to  God's 
will  than  afterward  to  be  slain  with  the  guilty  by  the  hand  of  God. 
But  canst  thou  not  endure  the  way,  nor  venture  on  it?  then 
suffer  with  the  wanton  tyrant  and  be  punished  at  last  along  with 
him,  and  still  the  hand  of  God  is  stretched-out  and  threateninG:. 
Is  the  tyrant  chosen  by  no  one  ?  Has  he  inherited  the  king- 
dom ?  I  do  not  know  what  reason  such  kingdoms  have  to  spare 
him ;  for  suppose  the  born-king  is  a  child  or  a  fool,  still  they 
must  take  him  as  their  lord.  But  how  can  he  rule  ?  It  must 
follow,  that  he  is  not,  according  to  the  common  proverb  of  a 
king's  son,  either  a  fool  or  a  king,  but  both  together,  a  fool  and 
a  king.  Moreover,  the  kingdom  must  be  governed  by  other 
wise  ones.     Were  it  not  better  then  to  make  a  wise  man  kino-? 

o 

for  "wo  to  thee,  0  land,  when  thy  king  is  a  child!''  They 
describe  a  tyrant  as  one  who  rules  by  his  own  power  and  after 
his  own  notion.  Thus,  I  do  not  know  whence  it  comes,  that 
thrones  are  hereditary,  unless  from  the  common  consent  of  the 
people.  If  now  there  be  a  tyrant,  this  or  that  individual  should 
not  undertake  to  kill  him;  a  tumult  would  arise  and  the  king- 
dom of  God  is  "righteousness,  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost."  But  if  the  entire  mass  of  the  people  with  one  accord, 
or  the  greater  part  of  them,  though  they  may  be  far  from 
anarchy,  depose  the  tyrant,  then  God  is  with  them."* 

Now,  in  Zwingli's  eyes  the  Emperor  was  a  tyrant  of  this  veiy 
stamp,  especially  since  his  reconciliation  and  close  alliance  with 
the  Pope.     From  this  he  augured  the  worst  results — the  sup- 

^  Zwingli's  Works  in  the  edition  of  Usteri  and  Voegelin.     Vol.  II. 
Tart  2.  pp.  453,  455,  450 


844  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

pression  of  the  Reformation  and  the  freedom  of  the  Gospel,  all 
political  liberty  and  even  the  subjugation  of  the  Confederacy 
itself.     ''The  Emperor/'  says  he  in  a  communication  to  his  in 
timate  political  associates,  ''arrays  friend  against  friend,  or  foe 
against  foe,  and  then  thrusts  himself  in  between  as  a  mediator, 
though  all  the  while  a  partisan,  ever  intent  on  upholding  the 
Papacy,  and  promoting,  first  of  all,  his  own  power  and  interests ; 
and  if  he  make  war  in  Germany,  he  will  do  all  he  can  to  marshal 
the  Castellan  of  Musso*  against  the  Confederacy,  the  Bishops 
of  Constance  against  the  city  of  Constance,   the  Bishop  of 
Strassburg  against  the  burghers  of  Strassburg,  the  Five  Cantons 
against  Zurich,  the  abbot  of  St.  Gall   against  the  city,  Duke 
George  of  Saxony  against  Duke  John,  to  usurp  his  position  as 
electoral  prince,  the  Bishops  on  the  Rhine  against  the  Land- 
grave of  Hesse,  and  similar  enemies  everywhere   against  the 
Evangelical  Cities — and  then  he  will  march  into  Germany  as  a 
mediator,  and  with  fair  but  hypocritical  words  befool  the  cities 
and  lords,  till  they  submit  to  him.''    To  provide  and  arm  against 
such  plans  he  regarded  as  lawful,  yea  as  an  imperative  neces- 
sity, desired  a  European  alliance  for  this  purpose,  and  publicly 
censured  those  who  remained  careless  and  inactive.     "Ruined 
or  lazy,"  he   wrote  to  Conrad  Zinck  of  Constance,  a  member 
of  the  Council,  "  are  they,  who  look  on  idly  and  never  trouble 
themselves  about  raising  up  a  force  sufficient  to  make  the  Em- 
peror feel,  that  he  will  labor  in  vain  to  restore  the  dominion 
of  Rome,  occupy  the  Free  Cities  and  conquer  us  Helvetians. 
Rouse  Linden;  rouse  your  neighbors  to  action.     He  is  a  fool 
who  builds  upon  the  friendship  of  a  tyrant.     Long  ago  Demos- 
thenes observed,  that  nothing  is  so  hated  by  such  a  despot, 
as  the  freedom  of  the  cities."     Ever  since  the  Marburg  Con- 

■^  A  powerful  and  dangerous  enemy  of  the  Reformed  party  in 
Switzerland,  especially  in  Graubuenden,  and  he  occupied  the  strongly 
fortified  castle  of  Musso  ou  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Como 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  6-±0 

ference^  his  connection  with  the  Landyrave  Philip  was  very  in- 
timate. Their  correspondence,  relating  more  to  politics  than 
to  articles  of  faith,  was  carried  on  partly  by  signs  mutually 
agreed  upon,  the  name  Pharoah  being  used  for  that  of  the 
Emperor.  Indeed  Zwingli  went  a  step  further  than  the  Ger- 
man prince  himself.  He  seriously  thought  of  the  possibility 
of  removing  Charles,  and  even  wished  it.  ^'So  great,"  he 
wrote  to  Jacob r Sturm  of  Strassburg,  ''is  the  wickedness  and 
perversity  of  the  Emperor,  that  I  believe  the  whole  world 
should  join  together  to  rid  itself  of  such  a  burden,  in  any  way 
possible,"  and  to  the  Landgrave  Philip,  in  a  style  full  of  dreamy 
hope:  "Our  kind,  gracious  Lord  causes  me  to  write  thus  freely 
like  a  child,  to  Your  Grace,  for  I  am  confident  in  God,  that  he 
has  appointed  Your  Grace  to  great  things,  which  I  may  indeed 
think  of,  but  not  speak.'' 

Such  being  the  disposition  of  the  Reformer,  it  was  not  to  be 
expected,  that  after  his  return  from  Marburg  he  would  confine 
himself  to  the  sphere  of  theology,  or  even  to  political  affiiirs 
within  the  limits  of  the  Confederacy.  More  and  more  did  he 
accustom  himself  to  look  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  father- 
land, and  gradually  induced  a  portion  of  the  Zurich  statesmen 
to  do  the  same.  In  Marburg  already,  the  fundamental  features 
of  a  close  alliance,  to  check  the  growing  preponderance  of  the 
Emperor,  was  agreed  upon.  The  Landgrave  undertook  to  ad- 
vocate the  cause  among  his  own  princes;  Zwingli  among  the 
Free  Cities  in  Southern  Germany,  by  means  of  influential  cler- 
gymen and  councillors,  of  whom  he  counted  a  considerable 
number  among  his  correspondents.  Through  Switzerland  a 
bridge  was  sought  to  Italy.  The  powerful  republic  of  Venice 
was  to  hold  the  Emperor  in  check  there,  at  least  to  aid  in  pre- 
venting the  employment  of  all  his  forces  against  German}-;  but 
a  progress  so  daring,  so  foreign  to  the  peaceful  and  cautious 
policy  of  the  Cantons,  as  set  forth  by  Zurich  herself,  some  years 


346  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI 

before,  wlien  the  defensive  alliance  was  concluded  with  France, 
could  not  but  awaken  suspicion  and  discord  among  the  Con- 
federates; hence  it  could  only  be  discussed  in  the  most  confi- 
dential circles.  Whether  any  one  in  the  government  of  Bern 
knew  anything  about  it,  is  uncertain.  That  it  should  be  at- 
tempted is  indeed  almost  incredible,  did  we  not  remember,  how 
very  easy  it  is  for  great  minds,  encouraged  by  former  results,  to 
persuade  themselves  that  everything  is  possible  to  their  own 
powers.  In  what  a  narrow  circle  the  resolution  to  send  an 
envoy  to  Venice  was  passed  is  evident  from  the  fact,  that  he 
was  not  a  statesmen  who  was  appointed,  but  Professor  Collin, 
Zwingli's  intimate  friend,  and  the  companion  of  his  journey  to 
Marburg,  a  man  of  no  political  experience,  yet  one  who,  in  va- 
rious walks  of  life,  as  canon,  tradesman,  partisan  and  public 
teacher,  had  tried  his  fortune,  and  proved  himself  useful  in  all; 
and  who,  besides  dexterity  and  boldness,  was  also  possessed  of 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Italian  language.  Provided  with 
credentials,  somewhat  ambiguous  in  their  form,*  he  set  out 
from  Zurich  alone;  on  the  11th  of  December,  put  to  flight 
luckily  two  robbers,  who  attacked  him  on  the  plain  of  Brescia, 
and  was  introduced  to  the  Doge  and  Council  in  Venice  on  the 
28th  of  the  same  month.  In  his  report  to  the  Privy  Council 
of  Zurich  may  be  found  his  address  on  that  occasion.  He  rep- 
resented himself  as  a  deputy  of  the  Council  of  Zurich  in 
agreement  with  the  cities  of  the  Christian  Biiergcrrccht,  com- 
munities living  jointly  under  free  constitutions,  like  that  of 
Venice.  Natural  and  common  interests  bound  them  to  resist  a 
universal,  all-devouring  monarchy,  such  as  the  Emperor  aimed 
at.     He  expressed  the  wish  that  A^enice  would  enter  into  cor- 

*  On  this  point  Collin  liimsclf  says  in  his  report:  "The  creden- 
tials could  neither  be  read  nor  understood,  for  they  were  very  badly 
written  and  in  the  most  confused  Btylo ;  but  I  let  them  understand 
enough  to  satisfy  them." 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  347 

respondence  with  Zurich,  who  would  act  for  the  other  allied 
cities,  to  communicate  to  them  what  happened  in  Italy  on  the  side 
of  the  Emperor,  or  what  transpired  of  his  dangerous  schemes. 
He  excused  the  sending  of  a  solitary,  youthful,  undistinguished 
man,  to  such  an  enlightened  republic  by  the  necessity  of  the 
case,  the  desire  to  avoid  notice, — to  conceal  the  movement  to- 
ward a  close  alliance  between  two  free  states  from  the  watchful 
glance  of  the  Emperor  and  his  assistants. 

But  Venice  herself  had  just  then  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace 
with  the  Emperor.  This  was  disclosed  to  the  deputy,  and  a 
reply  made  to  his  offer  in  very  general  terms,  so  that  the  dis- 
trust, which  a  mission  of  such  doubtful  appearance  awakened  in 
the  minds  of  the  Doge  and  the  Senate,  could  not  escape  his 
notice.  He  was  strictly  questioned  as  to  what  Confederate 
cities  composed  this  Buergerreclit,  what  opposed  it,  and  what  re- 
mained neutral.  Everything  was  written  down.  The  ceremo- 
nies with  which  he  was  dismissed,  and  a  present  of  twenty 
crowns  show  also  that  no  great  importance  was  attached  to  the 
embassy.  Far  otherwise  did  they  receive  the  ambassadors,  who 
in  former  years  had  appeared  before  them  in  the  name  of  the 
whole  Confederacy.  Although  an  attempt  was  made  to  keep 
the  matter  secret,  it  yet  became  known,  and  produced  indigna- 
tion among  those  who  were  not  privy  to  it,  and  chagrin  at  the 
sorry  roll  which  such  crooked  dealings  obliged  them  to  play. 
Zwingli  alone  and  his  princely  confidents  were  not  discouraged. 
"The  transaction  with  the  Venitians,"  he  wrote  to  Duke  Ulric 
of  Wuertemberg,  "  is  greatly  despised,  but,  as  I  observe  from 
your  letter,  may  yet  turn  to  our  advantage.  For  with  my 
cousin  (the  Landgrave)  there  is  no  lack  of  devotion  in  person 
and  property,  as  you  can  in  some  degree  learn  from  his  letters. 
Therefore  he  is  willing  to  aid  as  much  as  possible  toward  a  set- 
tled understanding,  especially  on  account  of  the  Venitians;  for 
we  may  depend  very  much  on  the  wheel  of  fortune  to  bring 


348  LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI. 

about,  wTiat  we  never  have  been  able  to  accomplish  hitherto 
with  great  cunning.  Time  and  opportunity  are  gone;  they  will 
not  wait.  The  raging  hand  also  is  not  idle;  he  prepares  one 
grave  after  another.''  Pursuing  his  design  with  unshaken  res- 
olution, Zwingli  hoped  in  the  end  to  make  it  intelligible  to  the 
Swiss  cities,  who  had  formed  the  Christian  Buergerredit,  that 
the  alliance  must  be  increased,  in  order  to  array  against  the 
great  powers  pledged  for  the  destruction  of  liberty,  great  ones 
for  its  maintenance.  In  fact,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  Strass- 
burg  was  also  admitted  into  the  Buergerrecht ;  but  when  this 
city- along  with  Zurich  and  Basel  proposed  that  it  should  be 
extended  likewise  to  the  Landgrave  of  Hess,  Bern  raised  diffi- 
culties, and  at  last  refused  consent,  with  the  remark,  that  she 
could  not  justify  before  her  own  subjects  the  admission  of  so 
remote  a  prince.  Zwingli  was  highly  disi3leased.  ''Bern 
always,'^  he  wrote  to  a  friend,  "sends  hears  to  negotiate,"  and 
to  another:  "The  Bear  is  lying  in  the  pains  of  travail, — is 
jealous  of  the  Lion  (Zurich)  and  acts  very  unfairly  towards 
him;  but  in  the  end  she  will  have  done  with  her  tricks  and 
take  the  manly  resolution  to  bear  away  the  victory.'^  Certainly 
the  Bernese  government  would  have  reason  for  anxiety  in  re- 
gard to  the  growing  preponderance  of  Zurich  in  the  Buerger- 
recht, if  Zwingli  could  be  supported  in  it  both  by  Strassburg 
and  the  Landgrave ;  but  its  reluctance  no  doubt  was  just  as 
much  owing  to  its  peculiar  policy,  which  was  always  less  con- 
cerned about  the  infusion  of  philosophical  or  theological  princi- 
ples into  the  national  life,  than  about  the  maintenance  of  ex- 
isting treaties  and  friendly  relations  as  far  as  possible  with  all 
the  Confederates. 

The  Anabaptists  were  still  very  active  in  Germany,  but  more 
so  in  Switzerland.  In  the  countries  favorable  to  the  Beforma- 
tion,  the  people  were  more  violent,  excited  and  difficult  to  rule 
and  satisfy.    Freedom  of  inquiry,  of  thought,  had  been  applied 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  349 

to  political  as  well  as  theological  matters.  If  it  was  boldly 
proclaimed  from  the  pulpit:  *The  kingdom  of  the  Pope  is 
not  of  God,  because  he  lays  upon  us  unnatural  restraint,  loads 
our  consciences  and  makes  us  carry  unnecessary  burdens/  the 
transition  was  easy  to  the  question:  < Shall  the  rule  of  the 
prince  draw  the  skin  over  our  ears  at  his  own  caprice?'  Only 
two  remedies  for  this  evil  were  available  in  monarchical  coun- 
tries; either  wisdom  and  moderation  on  the  part  of  the  princes 
themselves — a  paternal  government,  according  to  the  demands 
and  in  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel — or,  where  the  rulers,  as  was  yet 
frequently  the  case,  were  not  qualified  or  able  to  achieve  this, 
a  revival  of  the  doctrine  of  passive  obedience — subjection  in 
worldly  things,  as  Luther  maintained  it.  It  is  clear,  that  to 
uphold  this  doctrine  in  a  republic  was  a  more  difficult  task,  and 
we  have  already  shown,  that  Zwingli  could  not  be  numbered 
among  its  advocates.  On  the  political  arena  the  differeiice  be- 
tween his  reformation  and  that  of  Luther  began  to  grow  more 
and  more  visible,  and  so  hateful  did  the  former  become,  that 
the  Landgrave  of  Hesse  even  was  obliged  to  come  back  again 
toward  Luther,  and  exhort  Zwingli  to  greater  prudence  and 
caution,  especially  after  a  saying  of  Erasmus  had  found  its  way 
to  the  ears  of  the  nobles,  that  the  design  was  to  bring  in  de- 
mocracy under  the  cloak  of  the  Gospel. 

Meanwhile  the  Emperor  Charles  had  arrived  in  Germany 
and  opened  the  Imperial  Diet  at  Augsburg  in  person,  in  the 
summer  of  1530.  Here  they,  who  were  supposed  to  favor 
Zwingli's  views,  were  in  very  ill  repute.  "On  all  sides,"  Jacob 
Sturm  wrote  to  him,  "we  are  suspected,  as  though  we  were 
hatching  with  foreign  nations  some  marvellously  dangerous  plot 
for  the  overthrow  of  the  Emperor  and  the  Empire;  yea,  we  are 
regarded  as  open  rebels.  Thou  knowest  how  thoroughly  false 
this  is ;  yet  there  are  some  who,  therefore,  wish  also  to  hear 
nothing  about  our  articles  of  faith,  because,  they  say,  the  report 

30 


350  LIFE   O]?   ZWINGLI. 

goeS;*  tliat  some  of  us  have  boasted,  that  we  have  provisions, 
arms  and  soldiers  enough,  not  only  to  repel  force  with  force, 
but  also  to  invade  the  territory  of  our  neighbors.  There  are 
those  who  affirm  that  we  have  already  portioned  out  among 
ourselves  the  ecclesiastical  principalities,  before  the  victory,  and 
I  know  not  what  other  follies.  In  short,  the  Papists,  and  even 
those  who  otherwise  have  declared  themselves  for  the  Grospel, 
act  against  us  here,  openly  and  secretly,  so  that  our  destruction 
would  be  decided  on,  if  it  only  depended  on  them.  If  the 
Lord  himself  does  not  pity  us,  does  not  stand  by  innocence  and 
truth,  then  will  our  mighty  and  raging  foes  yet  devouf  us  alive. 
No  one  defends  us  more  than  the  Landgrave,  and  even  he  does 
not  venture  to  do  it  publicly,  but  only  to  advocate  our  cause  in 
narrower  circles.  To  us,  ears  and  access  are  completely  closed; 
we  are  crippled  in  all  our  members.  From  an  appeal  in  person, 
or  from  thy  servants  here,  whom  thou  couldst  entrust  with  the 
Gospel,  there  is  nothing  to  hope;  should  circumstances  mean- 
while take  a  more  favorable  turn,  I  will  send  you  word."  And 
yet  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  in  a  special  conference  with  the 
Emperor,  had  fearlessly  defended  himself  and  his  friends,  with- 
out however  giving  among  them  the  name  of  Zwingli,  a  con- 
fession of  faith  from  whose  hand  had  just  then  reached  Augs- 
burg, and  was  viewed  with  the  greatest  displeasure.  The  in- 
genious Switzer  had  woven  into  it  some  passages  of  a  political 
nature,  which,  though  cautiously  done,  in  his  opinion,  could 
not  but  produce  an  unfavorable  impression  in  the  Imperial 
Court,  as  it  then  stood.     It  contains  among  other  things:  ''  I 

*  A  confession  of  faith,  from  the  four  cities,  Strassburg,  Constance, 
Memmingon  and  Lindau,  which  was  especially  presented  to  the  Impe- 
rial Diet  at  Augsburg,  but  neither  received  nor  read,  like  the  so-called 
Augsburg  Confession  drawn  up  by  Luther  and  Melanchton,  and  signed 
by  the  German  Princes,  even  the  Landgrave  Philip,  at  least  during  any 
session  of  the  Estates  of  the  Empire. 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  351 

well  know  that  the  ruler,  chosen  or  appointed  in  a  lawful  man- 
ner, occupies  the  place  of  God,  no  less  than  the  priest;  but  as 
the  priest  should  be  a  minister  of  heavenly  wisdom  and  g'ood- 
ness,  to  defend  the  faith  and  bring  errors  to  light,  so  also  should 
the  ruler  be  a  minister  of  divine  goodness  and  justice;  good- 
ness, in  that  he  listens  to  and  cares  for  his  subjects  with  fidelity 
and  self-sacrifice,  like  God;  justice,  in  that  he  holds  in  check 
the  impious  and  wicked  and  protects  the  innocent.  If  he 
does  this,  then  he  preserves  a  quiet  conscience,  and  has  indeed 
nothing  to  fear;  if  he  does  it  not,  and  thus  surrounds  himself 
with  fear  and  terror,  I  cannot  think  that  his  conscience  will  be 
idle,  only  because  he  has  been  chosen,  or  placed  there,  consti- 
tutionally. Yet,  for  my  part,  I  believe  that  a  Christian  should 
obey  such  a  tyrant  until  the  opportunity  is  ofiered,  of  which 
Paul  speaks  :  ''  Canst  thou  make  thyself  free?  then  delay  not/' 
But  this  opportunity  will  be  pointed  out  to  him  by  God  alone,  not 
by  man,  and  that  not  doubtfully,  but  as  clearly  and  plainly,  as 
when  Saul  was  rejected  and  David  chosen  his  successor/'  It 
is  easy  to  see,  that,  amid  the  universal  excitement  then  pre- 
vailing, language  like  this,  so  unusual  in  documents  laid  before 
the  Imperial  Diet,  as  well  as  him  who  employed  it,  would  be 
styled  dangerous.  More  than  ever  did  Charles  and  his  brother 
Ferdinand,  King  of  Hungary,  withdraw  their  favor  from  the 
Keformed  party  and  incline  toWurd  the  Catholics.  But  just  in 
proportion  as  Zwingli  was  convinced,  that  the  number  and 
hatred  of  his  enemies  in  the  German  Empire  were  increasing, 
his  own  earlier  dislike  to  France  and  fear  of  an  alliance  with 
her,  appear  to  have  essentially  diminished.  Already,  in  the 
secret  political  conferences  held  at  Marburg,  he  directed  his  at- 
tention to  that  country,  and  it  may  indeed  have  been  through  a 
French  channel,  that  a  portion  of  the  news  concerning  the 
transactions  of  the  Emperor  in  Spain  and  Italy,  especially  with 
the  Pvoman  See,  reached  there.     Still  the  French  monarch, 


o.JjJ  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

-Francis  I.,  was  not  at  all  friendly  to  the  Keformation.  In  liis 
own  kingdom  lie  tried  to  keep  it  down  by  force.  His  queen, 
a  sister  of  Charles  Y.,  did  much  to  strengthen  this  feeling. 
Just  at  that  time  letters  from  her  brother  at  Augsburg,  full  of 
bitter  complaints  against  the  spirit  of  the  Protestants,  so  hostile 
to  all  civil  and  ecclesiastical  rule,  were  received  in  France. 
But  what  the  King  was  not  willing  to  sufier  in  his  own  do- 
minions, he  beheld  not  without  secret  pleasure  in  those  of  his 
envied  and  hated  rival,  for  so  he  always  considered  the  Empe- 
ror, in  spite  of  all  ties  of  relationship.  Out  of  policy,  therefore, 
in  order  to  weaken  the  power  of  xiustria,  he  supported  the 
German  Protestants;  and  out  of  policy  his  envoys  in  Switzer- 
land, Dangerant,  seigneur  de  Boisrigaidt  and  Maigret,  seigneur 
de  Villequoy,  sought  access  even  to  Zwingli.  With  Maigret  it 
appears  to  have  been  equally  a  matter  of  spiritual  interest;  for 
he  was  inclined  to  the  Gospel  and  in  after  life  became  a  decided 
Huguenot. 

We  have  seen  how  Zurich,  as  well  as  the  other  cantons,  was 
formerly  kept  back  from  entering  into  a  closer  alliance  with 
France  chiefly  through  Zwingli's  efforts.  It  is  remarkable  to 
observe  now  a  total  change  in  his  views.  Let  us  not  condemn 
him  unjustly,  but  hear  him  once  more  tell  his  own  story.  The 
true  picture  of  the  event  will  show  that  apparent  inconsistency 
only  sprang  from  an  abiding  enthusiasm,  in  behalf  of  the  one 
great  idea,  to  which  he  had  consecrated  his  life.  ''  The  am- 
bassadors of  the  King  of  France,''  he  writes  to  Jacob  Sturm, 
"have  asked  me  for  an  opinion,  as  to  how  the  power  of  the 
Empeior  might  be  broken,  or  circumscribed,  which  I  have 
written  out  in  Latin;  I  had  refused  it  twice,  and  only  when 
they  applied  the  third  time,  sent  it  to  them  with  the  knowledge 
of  the  Privy  Council.  It  is  now  (Feb.  28th,  1530)  the  seventh 
day  since  Collin  was  despatched  with  it  to  the  French  embassy. 
I  cannot  tell  whether  my  paper  will  be  sent  along  with   the 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  Co3 

messenger  to  the  King  or  not/'     This  document  was  in  the 
form  of  a  letter,  addressed  to  the  cities  of  the  Christian  Biier- 
gerrecht.     "It  is  a  known  fact/'  so  it  begins,  ''that  in  former 
centuries  no  kings  and  no  people  offered  a  more  steady  resist- 
ance to  the  overgrown  power  and  tyranny  of  the  Roman  Em- 
peror than  the  most  Christian  kings  of  France  and  the  people 
of  Helvetia.     Through  them,  not  only  their  own  liberties,  but 
those  also  of  other  princes,  nations  and  cities  have  been  main- 
tained.    Hence  this  alliance  of  powers — the  greater  one  of 
France  and  the  lesser  of  the  Confederates  (which  latter  are 
not  able  by  themselves  to  sustain  so  great  a  war)  cannot  be 
dissolved  without  injury  to  the  cause  of  universal  freedom.     This 
the  kings  of  France  have  always  kept  in  view.     And,  although 
at  present  the  Five  Cantons  continue  to  stand  aloof  from  the 
cities  of  the  Christian  Buergerreclif,  and  this  in  fact  does  not 
the  less  grieve  the  King  of  France,  than  if  (God  forbid  I)  his 
two  sons  were  at  variance,  still  he  preserves  the  feelings  and 
the  policy  of  his  ancestors,  who  valued  the  friendship  and  at- 
tachment of  no  people  more  than  that  of  the  Confederates. 
Hence,  if  ho  cannot  effect  a  treaty  with  all  Switzerland,  on  ac- 
count of  the  above-mentioned  schism,  he  is  yet  at  least  willing  to 
conclude  one  with  the  cities  of  the  Christian  Buergerrecht,  as 
well  as   those  cantons,  which  are  not  distant  in   their  views, 
namely,  with   Glarus,  Solothurn,  Appenzel   and  the  Toggen- 
burgers;  and  it  shall  be  of  such  a  character,  that  even  the 
Zurichers,  who  would  not  join  the  one  concluded  several  years 
ago,  can  no  longer  have  any  reason  to  stand  aloof,  because  it 
contains  no  articles  contrary  to  the  Divine  law.     For  this  pur- 
pose it  shall  also  be  submitted  beforehand  to  the  theologians 
and  preachers  of  the  Gospel  in  the  Confederacy,  since  it  is  the 
dearest  wish  of  the  most  Christian  King  himself,  that  the  Gospel 
shall  be  maintained  in  its  purity.''     The  chief  articles  proposed 
by  Zwingli  are  the  fgjlowing :  Twenty  years  for  the  duration  of 


3 5 J:  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

this  alliance,  whose  special  duty  it  shall  be  to  defend  the 
Christian  religion,  and  that  against  every  man  who  may  assail 
it,  without  exception.  If  one  of  the  two  parties  is  disturbed, 
because  it  has  received  the  Gospel  or  for  other  reasons,  then 
the  other  shall  send  aid  at  the  first  call;  should  it,  on  the  con- 
trary, make  the  attack,  then  authority  is  given,  to  help  only,  if 
the  reasons  of  the  attack  be  found  lawful.  The  troops  of  the 
cities  in  the  service  of  the  king  shall  be  paid  by  him.  If  they 
desire  help,  then  the  king  shall  send  whatever  of  cavalry  and 
guns  the  treaty  calls  for,  at  his  own  cost.  The  articles  of  the 
Perpetual  Peace,  already  existing  with  France,  are  to  continue 
likewise  in  full  force. 

In  a  private  letter  sent  to  his  near  acquaintance,  Maigret, 
along  with  this  scheme,  Zwingli  also  proposed,  if  the  King 
would  consent,  to  open  the  alliance  to  the  Lanchjrave  of  Hesse, 
who,  though  " a  young  man'  was  yet  prudent  far  beyond  his 
years,  magnanimous  and  resolute,"  and  said  there  would  be  no 
reason  either  to  regret  the  admission  of  the  Duke  of  "Wuertem- 
burg,  ^'who,  though  driven  from  his  country,  was  living  in 
exile,  but  with  a  stout  heart,  and  possessed  of  uncommon 
abilities,  in  union  with  ripe  experience;  and  I  may  do  much 
also  among  other  cities  near  the  borders  of  Switzerland.  This 
I  now  say  to  thee,  only  in  confidence." 

It  is  evident  that  the  Reformer  had  made  himself  familiar 
with  the  idea  that  his  scheme  would  not  be  presented  to  the 
King  in  such  a  form.  Indeed,  how  could  the  ambassadors  have 
dared  even  to  send  it?  The  very  form  of  the  scheme — Zwingli 
venturing  to  speak  in  the  name  of  the  King,  and  demand,  more- 
over that  the  public  act,  to  be  issued  by  him  and  the  council 
of  his  own  canton,  should  be  first  subjected  to  the  censorship 
of  certain  preachers — would  very  probably  have  appeared  to 
Francis  extremely  arrogant.  For  the  Cjospol  he  cared  nothing. 
His  heart  was  set  upon  Lombardy,  for  the  possession  of  which 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  855 

he  had  already  waged  two  wars  with  Charles.  But  to  carry  out 
his  plans  there,  he  needed  the  aid  of  the  Swiss,  and  hence  the 
allusion  to  a  division  amongst  them  in  the  scheme  would  have 
ensured  it  an  unfavorable  reception.  Some  days  afterward, 
Zwingli  received  written  notice  from  both  the  ambassadors,  that 
the  time  had  not  yet  come  to  entertain  propositions  of  this 
nature.  Dangerant  used  such  ambiguous  language  as  to  leave 
it  doubtful  whether  he  anticipated  similar  communications  in 
the  future,  or  wished  to  ridicule  the  whole  affair.  Maioret, 
who  was  well-disposed,  remained  in  constant  intercourse  with 
the  Eeforraer,  and,  at  a  later  period,  seems  to  have  made  a 
generous  use  of  a  sojourn  of  several  months  in  France,  to  kindle 
there  a  more  friendly  feeling  on  his  behalf,  of  which  indeed 
there  was  great  need.*  He  it  was,  who,  after  his  return  to 
Switzerland,  exhorted  Zwingli  to  develope  the  substance  of  his 
religious  doctrines  in  a  personal  letter  to  the  French  King,  in  the 
hope,  that  by  this  means  much  of  the  prejudice  of  that  monarch 
against  them  might  be  removed.  The  Reformer  consented. 
In  June  of  the  last  year  of  his  life,  the  writing  was  finished  and 
sent  to  Paris,  where  it  is  still  extant  in  the  Royal  Library,  a 
striking  monument  of  firm  faith,  as  well  as  noble  candor.  As 
before,  against  the  Emperor,  he  also  speaks  against  the  French 
King  in  regard  to  political  matters.  Here  we  can  only  quote 
the  beautiful  passage,  which,  though  little  apprehended  in  that 

*  In  a  letter,  written  from  France,  by  a  German,  in  the  year  1530, 
to  the  Privy  Council  of  Stras.sburg — in  order  to  urge  them,  by  a  dele- 
gation of  skillful  speakers,  to  the  French  Court,  in  the  name  of  the 
German  Protestants,  to  secure  the  entrance  of  the  Reformation  there, 
and  to  send  along,  if  possible,  a  learned  theologian — it  is  expressly 
stated :  "  Zwingli,  (Ecolampadius,  or  Carlstadt  should  be  sent  by  no 
means,  for  they  are  too  much  hated,  on  account  of  the  Sacrament ; 
others,  except  Luthcrus,  may  come ;  yet,  as  before  said  one  of  the 
delegation  should  be  able  to  speak  French,  in  order  to  deliver  the 
address  before  the  luDg." 


O0(5  LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI. 

age,  and  even  violently  censured  by  Lutlier,  shows  in  the  most 
vivid  manner,  how  for  he  stood  above  his  century,  and  how 
thoroughly  he  was  penetrated  by  the  conviction  that  Christian- 
ity is  designed  to  be  the  universal  religion — the  kingdom  of 
God,  which  must  embrace  all,  who  have  an  honest  will.  ''I 
believe,"  says  he,  "that  the  souls  of  the  faithful  in  Christ,  as 
soon  as  they  have  torn  themselves  loose  from  the  earthly  hull, 
rise  to  heaven,  enter  into  closer  union  with  the  Godhead  and 
enjoy  an  eternal  happiness.  Ifcre,  most  Christian  King,  thou 
durst  hope,  if  only  like  a  David,  a  Hezekiah,  a  Josiah,  thou 
hast  made  a  wise  use  of  the  power,  which  God  has  entrusted  to 
thee,  to  see  Him  in  his  essence,  his  form,  in  his  alniightiness 
and  goodness,  to  become  the  partaker  of  the  fruits  of  his  bless- 
ing, not  scantily,  but  to  full  satisfaction  ;  yet  not  to  that  satiety 
which  produces  disgust,  but  that  which,  in  blissful  fulness,  like 
the  streams  that  roll  everlastingly  dov/n  to  the  sea  and  out  of 
the  pores  of  the  earth  renew  themselves  again,  water  the  land- 
scape, cover  it  with  smiles  and  adorn  it  with  a  rich  growth  of 
flowers.  The  happiness,  which  wc  eojoy,  will  be  without  end, 
can  never  be  exhausted,  for  no  weariness  comes  there ;  it  is 
ever  new  and  ever  the  same,  'then  durst  thou  also  hope  to  be 
taken  j-onder  into  the  communion,  the  society,  the  confidence 
of  all,  who,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  have  led  holy, 
wise,  believing,  steadfast,  brave  and  righteous  lives.  There 
wilt  thou  find  the  two  Adams,  the  saved  and  the  Savior,  Abel, 
Enoch,  Noah,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  Judah^  Moses,  Joshua, 
Gideon,  Samuel,  Phineas,  Elijah,  Elisha,  Isaiah,  and  the  God- 
bearing  Virgin  of  whom  he  prophesied,  David,  Hezekiah, 
Josiah,  John  the  Baptist,  Peter  and  Paul;  there  also  Hercules, 
Theseus,  Socrates,  Aristides,  Antigonus,  Numa,  Camillus,  the 
Catos  and  the  Scipios;  there  Louis  the  Pious,  and  thy  fore- 
fathers, the  Louises,  Philips,  Pepins,  as  many  of  whom  as 
walked  by  faith.     In  fine,  never  has  there  been  a  noble  man, 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  357 

never  has  there  existed  a  pure  spirit,  a  true  heart  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world  till  its  end,  whom  thou  wilt  not  find  there, 
enjoying  communion  with  the  Father/' 

Let  us  now  turn  back  to  the  Five  Cantons.  The  Land/rlede 
had  operated  to  their  prejudice,  as  compared  with  their  Reformed 
Confederates.  Still  they  strove  in  general  to  enforce  its  pro- 
visions, but  according  to  that  interpretation,  which,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  treaty,  they  had  put  upon  certain  ambiguous 
articles.  Special  conferences  among  themselves,  and  with  other 
co-religionists  were  not  at  all  abandoned;  but  neither  was  this 
the  case  on  the  side  of  the  Reformed.  Yet  when  they  met  for 
the  transaction  of  private  business,  the  voice  of  moderation, 
especially  in  the  beginning,  was  not  seldom  heard.  Thus,  at  a 
meeting  in  Altorf,  toward  the  end  of  August,  1529,  Uri  de- 
clared with  warmth,  "  that,  if  any  one  of  the  Five  Cantons  ^vere 
attacked  contrary  to  the  Peace,  she  would  pledge  life  and  prop- 
erty for  its  defence,  but  that  in  several  cantons  unbecoming 
language  was  used,  and  sundry  markings  done  with  badges  (fir- 
twigs  upon  their  hats),  which  was  improper  and  a  violation  of 
the  Landjriede;  this  they  wished  to  maintain,  and  hence  did 
not  approve  of  such  things,  and  it  is  their  friendly  request,  that 
every  canton  will  see  it  put  away  froii^  among  its  people,  though 
they  have  done  it;  for  if  war  should  come  on  account  of  such 
reasons  above-named,  she  would  promise  nothing,  and  would 
feel  bound  to  render  no  aid;  the  Emperor  in  the  meantime 
should  not  be  written  to."  A  month  later,  at  a  another  con- 
ference in  l^runncn,  Zug,  in  whose  midst  vehement  passions 
wero  still  alive,  was  warned  in  a  similar  strain,  and  "the  deputy 
told  of  the  unbecoming  words  which  they  used,  that  they  should 
be  put  away,  lest  confusion  might  arise  therefrom;"  and  again 
at  Brunnen,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  following,  it  was  re- 
solved, that  "words  of  reviling  and  abuse  be  put  away,  since 
they  can  lead  to  nothing  good."     They,  who  were  guily  of  these 


ooo  LIFE  OF  z^yIX{■;LI. 

oifencGS,  were,  for  the  most  part,  proud,  insolent  partisan  lead- 
ers, dreaded  on  account  of  their  lawless  character  and  warlike 
propensities,  or  else,  head-strong  young  men,  sons  of  politi- 
cians and  distinguished  councillors,  and  hence  it  was  the  more 
difficult  to  apply  a  remedy.  The  Zurichers  declared  themselves 
little  satisfied  with  fines,  or  the  imprisonment  of  some  poor  fel- 
low or  obscure  hot-head,  dragged  out  of  an  ale-house,  when,  on 
the  other  hand,  in  a  large  company,  in  presence  of  distinguished 
members  of  the  Pteformed  party,  a  man  like  Captain  Sha3nbrun- 
ner  of  Zug  was  allowed  to  read,  with  ill-concealed  malice,  a 
dirty  libel  in  which  Zwingli  was  accused  of  unnatural  excesses 
and  a  loathsome  disease;  but,  on  complaining  bitterly  of  this, 
they  only  received  the  answer :  "  Our  Lords  have  told  Henry 
Shoenbrunner,  that  his  conduct  does  not  please  them/'  It  was 
not  the  abusive  language  of  an  obscure  individual,  which  crea- 
ted such  a  stir,  but  that  of  an  influential  man,  one  who,  a  short 
time  before,  had  been  sent  to  the  Imperial  Diet  at  Augsburg 
and  there  honored  with  a  personal  interview  by  King  Ferdi- 
nand, the  Emperor's  brother. 

But,  as  among  the  Reformed,  so  also  among  the  Catholics, 
it  was  found  very  difficult  to  persuade  the  most  prominent 
leaders  to  use  measures  of  conciliation.  The  Zugers  distin- 
guished themselves  by  their  wild  passion  and  energy.  In  order 
to  increase  their  influence,  they  sought  and  obtained  admission 
into  the  old  confederation  of  the  Four  Forest  Cantons,  and  they 
were  the  first  who  broached  the  idea  of  another  alliance  with 
Austria.  At  the  very  time,  when  Collin  was  dispatched  to 
Venice,  bailiff  Thoss  of  Zug  set  out  for  Genoa,  and  obtained  an 
audience  of  the  Emperor,  whom  he  followed  to  Bologna,  where 
he  was  graciously  received  by  the  Pope.  Bern  had  informed 
Zurich  of  this  occurrence,  and  expressed  her  anxiety.  Perhaps 
it  was  through  his  reports,  that  the  Five  Cantons  were  induced 
to  send  a  delegation  to  the  Imperial  Diefe  at  Augsburg,  in  the 


LIFE   or    ZWINGLT.  ■].)[) 

summer  of  1530.     The  delegation  consisted  of  the  landcmjt 
of  the  canton  of  Luzern  and  the  son  of  the   then  scliuJflui  s, 
Hug,  to  whom  Baptista  ah   hola  of  Genoa  was  yet  added. 
The  latter,  who    probably  accompanied    Thoss   on  his  return 
home,  had  received  from  Luzern  the  rights  of  citizenship  and 
became  the  leader  of  a  troop  of  Italian  auxiliaries,  which,  in 
the  subsequent  war,  the  Papal  legate  enlisted  for  the  Five 
Cantons.     Besides  the   deputies,  there  went  thither   Captain 
Schcenbrunner  of  Zug,  the  schidtheiss  Hebolt  of  Solothurn  aud 
Eennward  Goeldin,  a  distinguished  Zuricher,  who,  from  indig- 
nation at  the  law  against  desertion,  had  left  his  native  city  and 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  Five  Cantons.     The  abbot  of  St.  Gall 
followed.     At  the  Imperial  Diet  they  all  sought  assistance  from 
the  Emperor,  or  at  least  endeavored,  for  the  encouragement  of 
friends  and  the  terror  of  foes,  to  make  the  impression  that  they 
would  obtain  it.     For  this  purpose  reports  of  their  brilliant  re- 
ception and  the  marks  of  honor  bestowed  on  them  were  spread 
everywhere — how  often  they  had  spoken  with  the  Emperor  and 
his  brother — how  often  they  had  been  summoned  to  confer  with 
influential  and  illustrious  men.     But,  on  the  other  hand,  reports 
of  quite  a  different  character  reached  Switzerland  from  the  ob- 
servers of  the  Pteformed  party,  of  whom  an  unknown  citizen  of 
St.  Gall  appears  to  have  been   the  most  active.     His  long  let- 
ters, full  of  details,  were  immediately  communicated  by  St.  Gall 
to  the  allied  cities.     Touching  the  abbot  and  the  embassy  of 
the  Five  Cantons,  he  expresses  himself  in  the  following  man- 
ner: ^'Kilian,  the  pretended  abbot  of  St.  Gall,  came  hither  on 
the  9th  of  July.     I  have  seen  him  several  times,  and  conversed 
with  his  chamberlain  and  his  chancellor  on  the  street,  when 
they  saluted  me;  yet  they  betrayed  nothing.     The  chancellor 
told  me,  that  his  gracious  lord  was  here  only  to  receive  a  fief 
from  the  Bishop  of  Chur;  item,  to  wait  and  see  also  what  would 
be  done  at  the  present  Diet  and  likewise  how  it  would  go  with 


3G0  LIFE    OF    ZYv'INGLI. 

others  of  the  clerical  order,  as  well  as  himself.  Indeed,  his 
case  is  such,  that  even  if  the  just-named  ahbot  had  received 
wise  council,  he  could  not,  in  my  judgment,  accomplish  any- 
thing. The  said  Kilian  lodges  with  one  Fischer,  at  a  hotel  in 
some  obscure  street.  On  the  10th  of  the  present  month,  he 
dined  with  the  Bishop  of  Constance;  and  then  on  the  11th,  in 
front  of  the  Bishop's  chamber,  paced  up  and  down,  giving  vent 
there  to  his  sorrow,  anguish  and  misery,  and  cries  to  the  Virgin, 
for  more  than  an  hour,  before  he  was  admitted;  then  without 
doubt  the  words  of  the  said  bishop  gave  him  comfort;  though 
I  hope  their  scheme  will  prove  a  gross  failure,  since  I,  by  the 
help  of  God,  as  far  as  I  can  learn  the  issue  of  this  business,  will 
send  My  Lords  the  very  earliest  information  thereof.  Touching 
the  embassy  of  the  cantons :  First,  the  deputies  of  Luzern  ar- 
rived on  the  5th  day  of  this  month  (July).  By  the  command 
of  the  Emperor,  they  are  lodged  at  a  respectable  inn,  not  far 
from  the  court  of  the  Emperor  and  King.  The  vogt  of  the 
canton  has  presented  and  delivered  to  the  Emperor  many  let- 
ters, without  doubt  supplications  and  apologies  for  royal  treaties 
and  seals  broken  on  compulsion  and  other  similar  things  in 
writing.  But  I  cannot  see,  that  the  Emperor  can  give  them 
any  special  attention,  till  the  decree  of  the  Diet,  in  regard  to  the 
faith  and  other  articles  of  like  nature,  are  made  known.  Then, 
there  are  deputies  from  Zug,  but  I  cannot  see,  that  they  do 
much  business,  except  to  curry  favor  with  the  men  of  Luzern 
and  keep  up  appearances,  by  begging  money  for  the  sham-abbot 
Kilian  and  offering  him  a  ]jlaceho  {i.  e.  delusive  promises  of 
help) ;  thus  at  no  cost  to  themselves  (but  I  forget — Kilian  must 
undo  his  purse-strings  and  be  his  own  treasurer  and  steward) 
they  can  see  the  Emperor,  King  and  members  of  the  Imperial 
Diet;  therefore,  if  the  Emperor,  sometime  ago,  wished  to  form 
an  alliance  with  thorn,  which  caused  them  to  be  regarded  as  very 
distinguished  and  useful;    now,  upon  near  acquaintance,  he 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  361 

will  possibly  load  tliem  with  costly  gifts  and  marks  of  honor.  Mark 
Sittich  (Austrian  governor  of  the  frontier-province  of  Vorarl- 
berg  in  the  Tyrol)  is  laboring  hard  for  this.  Although,  gracious 
Lords,  great  plans  and  schemes  are  devised  for  the  persecution 
of  the  Common  Confederacy,  to  wit,  the  evangelical  cities — 
Bern,  Zurich  and  their  allies  and  Christian  co-burghers,  yet 
are  they,  in  my  judgment,  only  vain,  proud  and  bragging  fools, 
who  busy  themselves  here,  in  a  restless  and  violent  manner,  in 
these  proceedings  against  us.  On  the  fourth  day  of  July,  Mark 
Sittich  made  loud  complaint  to  the  Emperor  about  the  Zurich- 
ers,  how  they  withheld  by  force  what  belonged  to  him.  The 
Zurichers  should  be  written  to  on  the  subject.  These  things 
need  looking  after,  and  I  now  give  Mark's  scheme  and  plan  of 
action  with  the  names :  Thus,  the  Christian  cities  in  the  three 
cantons  are  to  be  surprised,  assaulted  and  taken;  namely,  by 
the  Duke  of  Savoy,  with  the  help  of  Wallis  (  Valais')  and  Frei- 
burg proceeding  against  Bern ;  item,  the  Emperor  against  Basel 
and  Constance,  and  Mark  Sittich,  with  squadrons  from  the 
abbacy  and  over  the  Rhine,  and  the  hostile  countries  beyond, 
against  us.  Then  the  city  of  Strassburg  is  to  be  besieged.  In 
case  the  cities,  bound  by  their  burgher-oath,  send  forth  troops 
to  aid  their  comrades,  these  troops  are  to  be  suddenly  attacked 
upon  the  road  and  no  one  left  to  tell  the  tale. — All  this  would 
perhaps  take  place,  if  the  Turk  had  not  marched  against  Vien- 
na. I  have  good  hope  in  God,  our  Redeemer,  that  these  fel- 
lows will  fail  in  many,  yea  more  than  half  their  plans.  There- 
fore, you,  my  Lords,  may  be  unterrified  if  such  stories  reach 
your  ears,  for  our  Savior  does  not  bless  such  base  designs. 
And  though  it  should  happen,  it  will  only  redound  to  His 
honor  and  glory,^' 

From  these  and  similar  reports  we  may  certainly  infer,  that 
the  deputies  of  the  Five  Cantons,  as  well  as  the  abbot  of  St. 
Gall,  did  their  utmost  in  Augsburg,  to  win  over  the  Emperor 

81 


802  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI 

and  individual  members  of  tlie  Imperial  Diet  to  tlieir  cause, 
and  found  also  zealous  advocates.  Yet  no  record  of  any  formal 
resolution  passed  in  tlieir  favor,  or  a  revival  of  tlieir-  alliance 
with  Austria,  is  extant.  On  the  contrary,  they  appear  t.'  Lave 
returned  home  not  altogether  satisfied,  and  toward  the  close 
of  the  year  1530,  their  general  behavior  exhibits  more  of  des- 
pondency than  hope,  whilst  Zurich  assumed  a  still  more  hostile 
attitude  J  and  Zwingli  himself  was  little  inclined  to  oppose 
it.  Through  his  efforts,  his  exhortations,  his  correspondence, 
his  travels  the  Reformed  party  grew  stronger  day  by  day.  Zu- 
rich was  everywhere  ready  with  her  mediation,  or  protection — 
with  complaints,  if  the  Five  Cantons,  with  threats,  if  their 
subjects  endeavored  to  prevent  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 
Here,  in  the  territories,  in  which  the  Catholic  states  also  had  a 
share,  a  monastery  was  broken  up  to-day,  because  the  mass  of 
its  occupants  so  desired,  and  sometimes  too,  as  happened  at 
Katharinenthal,  near  Diessenhofen,  because  intimidated  by  force 
and  terror,  and  there  to-morrow,  in  a  parish  hitherto  devoted 
to  the  old  faith,  the  Reformation,  after  repeated  voting,  was 
carried  by  a  small  majority.  Of  course  a  preacher  was  imme- 
diately sent  thither,  and  rarely  did  they  stop,  until  they  had 
obliged  the  ejected  Catholic  priest  to  retire.  Some  time  pre- 
vious, the  Thurgovian  landweihel  (high  sergeant),  one  of  the 
most  powerful  props  of  the  Old  Faith  party,  when  passing 
through  Zurich  in  the  retinue  of  a  landvogt  from  Unterwaldeu, 
had  been  there  thrown  into  prison  and  beheaded;  and  the 
landvogt  Stocker  from  Zug,  on  complaint  made  to  Zurich  by 
the  Thurgovians,  found  himself,  through  the  assistance  which 
the  former  granted  to  the  people,  compelled  to  flee  the  territory. 
The  landvogt  Kretz  from  Unterwalden  met  with  the  same 
treatment  in  the  Rheinthal,  but  in  this  case  without  the  aid  of 
Zurich.  It  certainly  cannot  be  denied,  that  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  clergy — of  the  monks,  who  were  ejected  from  the 


LIFE    OP    ZWINGLI.  oG3 

Territories  in  consequence  of  the  Reformation,  were  men  with- 
out knowledge,  often  without  morals  and  generally  of  little 
worth,  and  that  the  three  civil  functionaries  just-mentioned, 
had,  by  their  harshness,  immorality  and  acts  of  violence,  stirred 
up  the  righteous  indignation  of  the  people;  yet  the  forms,  un- 
der which  Zurich  proceeded,  were  not  those  of  confederate 
law,  but  the  offspring  rather  of  an  arbitrary  will,  whose-  continued 
assumption  of  power  tended  only  to  awaken  the  most  bitter  ani- 
mosity amongst  the  Five  Cantons,  and  found  no  approval  with 
her  own  party,  including  even  the  cities  of  the  Christian  Buer- 
gerrecht.  The  good  end  could  not  justify  the  unlawful  means. 
And  still  less  was  this  the  case,  when,  in  spite  of  the  decided 
protest  of  the  other  cantons  of  the  protectorate,  she  allowed 
herself  to  make  a  one-sided  scale  of  salaries,  increasing  the  reve- 
nues of  benefices  in  the  parishes,  which  had  accepted  the  Ref- 
ormation, at  the  expense  of  the  rest;  and  compel  Catholics, 
who  had  resigned  these  benefices,  to  call  in  Reformed  preachers 
and  pay  them  more,  than  required  by  the  treaties.  In  vain  did 
the  Five  Cantons  raise  a  voice  of  protest  at  all  the  sittings  of 
the  general  Diet;  in  vain  did  they  send  embassies  with  com- 
plaints and  prayers  for  redress  to  the  other  states.  Zurich 
pushed  forward,  secure  of  support  from  the  majority  of  the 
people  in  the  Territories. 

But  more  yet  was  in  reserve,  and  principally  through  Zwingli's 
influence.  He  too  sank  under  the  weakness  of  our  common  hu- 
manity; as  Luther  and  Calvin  in  solitary  moments,  as  Borromoo 
and  Francis  de  Sales,  as  the  Apostles  themselves.  One  alone 
never  yielded,  and  proved  by  that  very  fact,  that  He  had  come 
from  God.  A  writing  of  the  Reformer,  still  extant,  its  margin 
covered  with  corrections,  improvements  a.nd  additions — signs  of 
great  mental  agitation — shows  incontestibly,  that  with  him  also, 
in  hours,  when  his  feelings  may  have  been  embittered  by  the 
unworthy  attacks  to  which  he  saw  himself  more  and  more  ex- 


364  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

posed,  hatred  had  prevailed  over  love,  passion  over  calmness 
of  spirit,  and  earthly  policy  over  the  guidance  of  faith.  It  has 
this  heading :  '^  What,  in  the  dealings  of  the  Five  Cantons, 
there  is  need  for  Zurich  and  Bern  to  ponder  over/^  It  afibrds 
us  a  deep  glance  into  his  inner  life,  and  reveals  to  us  the  plans 
with  which  he  was  occupied;  and  whilst  the  cold-blooded  read- 
er, who  sees  in  history  only  the  results  of  human  struggles,  and 
declares  those  most  successful,  where  the  most  comprehensive 
means  have  accompanied  the  grandest  designs,  may  read  these 
with  admiration  of  Zwingli's  political  sagacity,  he,  on  the  other 
hand,  who  measures  all  things  by  the  rule  of  the  Grospel,  will  be 
obliged  to  condemn  them. 

Any  one,  who  derives  his  knowledge  of  the  history  of  that 
period  from  original  sources,  and  has  read  the  numerous  bills 
of  complaint,  handed  in,  even  at  the  recesses  of  the  general 
Diet,  by  the  people  of  the  Common  Territories,  and  the  results 
of  the  investigations,  which,  in  most  cases,  proved  them  to  be 
just  and  well-founded,  can  imagine  the  indignation  which 
Zwingli's  view  of  the  case  called  forth.  But  to  an  honest  will 
other  means  of  redress  stood  open,  before  resort  to  such  extreme 
measures — to  plans  that  would  shake  the  Confederacy  to  its  very 
foundations.  But  indeed,  it  is  almost  certain,  that  these  plans 
were  never  formally  laid  before  the  authorities  of  Zurich  and 
made  the  subject  of  official  deliberation.  They  may  have  been 
communications  to  a  narrow,  confidential  circle  of  friends, 
drawn  up  more  as  a  frank  confession  of  his  own  political  foith, 
than  with  any  hope  that  their  complete  execution  was  so  easily 
possible  in  the  coming  age.  Still,  they  afford  us  the  necessary 
key  to  a  right  understanding  of  the  part  played  by  him  in  the 
affairs  of  the  Confederacy,  during  the  last  two  years  of  his  life, 
and  hence  we  cannot  omit  here  the  main  ideas.  "In  ancient 
times,"  so  he  writes,  "Zurich  and  Bern  united  as  confederates 
with  the  Four  Forest  Cantons,  Luzern,  Uri,  Schwyz,  and  Un- 

31* 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 


365 


terwalden.  The  power  of  both  parties  was  then  equal  and  they 
held  faithfully  together,  but  the  burden  of  the  wars  against 
their  enemies  on  all  sides  was  great.  The  cities  were  the  bul- 
warks ]  they  had  not  the  mountains,  the  passes,  for  their  de- 
fence. As  their  territory  increased,  the  greater  injuries  fell 
upon  them  and  the  greater  costs.  With  fairness  they  could 
have  demanded  a  change  in  the  relative  proportion  of  right  in 
the  federal  councils.  But  Zurich  and  Bern  were  content  with 
some  insignificant  grants,  respecting  the  division  of  booty  ac- 
cording to  the  number  of  soldiers,  which  the  treaty  of  Stanz 
allowed  them;  and  the  Cantons  still  kept  twice  as  many  votes 
as  the  cities,  although  the  latter,  yea  even  sometimes  one  of 
them  performed  as  much  as  all  the  former  put  together.  This 
produced  arrogance  among  those  who,  in  the  beginning,  were 
modest.  They  were  the  governors  of  the  common  bailiwicks; 
they  acted  often  without  consulting  the  cities.  They  have 
strengthened  themselves  in  our  times  by  the  admission  of  a  fifth 
canton.  They  concoct  everywhere  their  schemes,  before  the 
meetings  of  the  federal  diet;  for  them  the  fruit  must  ripen, 
where  they  did  not  sow.  Shall  the  two  cities  endure  this  any 
longer?  They  are  confronted  with  the  federal  league,  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  treaty  of  Stanz,  which  guarantees  their  rights, 
their  number  of  votes  at  the  diet,  in  relation  to  the  Territories; 
but  every  claim,  privilege  or  power,  is  dissolved  or  broken, 
according  to  divine  and  human  law,  when  they  are  misused. 
The  land  of  Palestine  is  an  example.  In  eternity  was  it  prom- 
ised to  the  children  of  Israel.  In  eternity  were  they  driven 
out  from  it,  when  they  transgressed  the  commandment  of  God. 
Rome  brought  into  subjection  Alba  Longa  and  the  Sabines,  from 
whom  she  herself  had  sprung,  because  they  did  not  keep  the 
peace  and  act  fairly  as  neighbors.  In  history  such  examples  are 
innumerable,  and  it  is  God's  Word  that  says  :  '  Put  away  the  evil 
from  among  you.''     Moreover,  it  is  highly  necessary  for  our 


366  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

union  to  lessen  their  power,  or  to  separate  from  them.  For 
years  back,  neither  discipline  nor  order  has  been  found  in  their 
midst.  And  where  these  fail,  no  government  can  stand.  If  it 
be  said,  they  have  their  own  rights,  their  own  power,  their 
own  government,  which  must  be  left  to  them,  and  though  these 
all  be  abused,  we  have  no  right  to  say  anything,  then  the 
answer  is :  No  compact  can  exist  contrary  to  justice,  and  if 
the  one  party  overlooks  this,  falls  away  from  it,  then  the  other 
should  hold  them  to  it,  yea,  compel  them,  and  if  the  Five  Can- 
tons are  henceforth  lost  to  all  sense  of  right,  then  it  is  "  certain, 
that  they  must  be  punished  and  will  be  uprooted.''  So  the 
eleven  tribes  of  Israel  slew  the  twenty  five  thousand  Benjamites, 
and  so  the  Romans  punished  the  Carthaginians,  until  they 
brought  them  into  complete  subjection. 

"  Two  things  only  are  now  to  be  considered — ^clien  and  hoio 
we  shall  punish  them.  When?  Truly  it  is  best  to  attack 
them  at  once. 

"France  will  remain  neutral;  the  Emperor  is  entangled  in 
the  affairs  of  Germany;  they  can  obtain  no  help  either  from 
Confederates  or  foreigners,  are  ill  supplied  with  guns  and  other 
necessaries,  and  besides,  there  are  also  many  good  people  among 
them,  whose  hearts  are  more  with  us  than  with  them.  Only, 
do  not  begin  with  prohibiting  the  export  of  provisions;  this 
will  not  suffice,  and  prove  rather  injurious  to  ourselves.  'By 
destroying  the  bailiwicks  (yogtcien),  by  annulling  the  federal 
compact,  and  by  invading  their  territory,  we  must  force  them 
to  obey;'  and  if  the  latter  will  not  do,  because  it  seems  too 
dreadful,  then  let  us  immediately  lay  hold  on  one  of  the  other 
means. 

'"'•How  so?  The  best  is,  for  our  two  cantons  in  concert  to 
seize  on  the  bailiwicks,  indeed  to  hold  back  their  rights  from 
each  of  the  others,  who  have  share  in  the  government  of  the 
Territories.     Then  it  may  be  the  most  advisable  to  divide  tlie 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  367 

bailiwicks.  But  the  division  is  not  to  be  made  according  to  the 
number  of  the  ruling  powers ;  their  method  is  not  to  be  establish- 
ed by  a  majority  of  votes;  for,  in  that  case,  Zurich  and  Bern 
would  be  shamefully  cheated,  since  the  majority  has  always 
been  on  the  side  of  the  Five  Cantons.  No !  if  justice  is  to  be 
done,  let  the  ruling  powers  be  broken  into  three  equal  parts — 
Zurich  and  Bern  to  form  two,  and  the  rest  one.  Indeed  if  real 
power,  influence  and  importance  were  taken  into  account,  Zurich 
and  Bern  would  be  entitled  to  six-sevenths.  Fairness  requires 
the  division  to  be  made  according  to  the  proportion  of  two  to 
one.  And  this  can  and  will  happen,  if  both  cities  are  united, 
if,  in  the  prosperity  of  the  one,  the  other  seeks  hers  also,  and 
desires  no  increase  foT  herself  without  the  increase  and  advan- 
tage of  her  neighbor.  Each  shall  endeavor  also  to  form  alliances 
with  foreign  cities  lying  near;  yet  not  alone,  but  in  common, 
ever  going  hand  in  hand,  pledging  friendship  for  friendship, 
and  neutrality  for  neutrality.  In  all  the  other  cantons,  sensible 
people  shall  be  informed,  what  great  injury  may  result  to  them 
from  the  continual  mismanagement  of  the  Five  Cantons  at 
home  and  abroad.  Hence  it  will  follow,  that  the  other  cantons 
will  also  let  the  Five  drop;  for  their  power  now,  since  the  in- 
troduction of  artillery  into  all  wars,  is  so  small,  that  no  danger 
need  be  apprehended  from  them.  Then  too,  the  cities  are 
better  armed  than  they,  aad  will  accordingly  gain,  if  their  power 
is  broken  or  diminished.  Moreover,  the  ignorance  of  the  Five 
Cantons,  in  everything  that  belongs  to  government,  is  a  reason 
why  we  must  separate  from  them ;  for,  if  brothers  keep  house  to- 
gether, and  one  of  them  does  nothing  and  only  squanders,  then 
they  must  divide,  or  the  spendthrift  will  bring  them  all  to  poverty. 
"But,  that  they  cannot  govern,  is  proved  by  all  their  pro- 
ceedings in  the  German  and  French  bailiwicks.  In  the  French 
cantons  they  have  ruined  the  bailiwicks  by  taking  bribes  for 
sentences  and  appeals  and  doing  it  so  scandalously,  that  no  hon- 


368  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

est  man  can  see  or  hear  it  without  great  pain.  It  is  fast  coming 
to  a  rupture  also  in  the  German  bailiwicks.  Thither  they  send, 
either  haughty  and  avaricious  vogts,  or  those  of  loose  character, 
who  rob,  break  every  thing  to  pieces,  and  so  behave  that  every 
one  grows  tired  of  them,  and  if  a  separation  does  not  take  place, 
the  general  indignation  will  in  the  end  be  transferred  to  the 
vogts  of  the  cities  also;  for  already  have  several  of  the  latter 
been  imprisoned  for  following  their  shameful  example.  These 
riotous  fellows  drink,  gamble  and  live  with  lewd  women,  to  the 
great  scandal  of  honest  people.  In  short,  if  we  be  not  divided 
from  them,  or  their  power  be  not  so  diminished,  that  they  must 
stand  in  dread  of  Zurich  and  Bern,  then  surely  a  schism  will 
be  created  among  the  cantons,  as  terrible  as  that  between  the 
Guelfs  and  Ghibelines  in  Italy.  Summa  summarum:  He, 
who  cannot  be  master  shall  be  a  miserable  slave.  This  is  writ- 
ten down  hastily,  in  order  that  both  cities  may  see  what  is  the 
most  pressing  want  of  the  time,  and  the  more  bravely  lay  hand 
to  the  work.  No  one  should  indicate  the  author,  but  say :  God 
grant  grace ! " 

God  indeed  does  grant  grace  to  every  thing,  which,  out  of  a 
pure  knowledge  of  it,  happens  according  to  his  will,  and  falls 
back  upon  it.  And  God  did  grant  grace  to  every  manly,  true, 
loving  word  of  the  Keformer,  uttered  in  behalf  of  spiritual  free- 
dom, to  the  unmasking  of  hypocrisy  and  abominable  priestcraft — 
grace  to  every  thing  that  he  did  and  suffered,  to  bring  back 
faith  in  the  Word  of  God  to  the  only  foundation,  upon  which 
it  rests  unshaken,  purity  of  heart  and  will,  and  the  personal  ex- 
perience of  the  blessing,  which  springs  from  all  truly  evangel- 
ical conduct.  For  this  Zurich  thanks  him,  and  is  bound  so  to 
do,  as  long  as  she  exists.  But  God  is  also  just.  No  departure 
from  the  right  path  can  be  long  continued  without  injurious 
consequences,  and  least  of  all  in  the  strongest  and  most  highly 
gifted.  The  deviation  from  those  plans,  perhaps  the  greatest  error 


LIFE    OF    ZWINCLI.  363 

of  liis  life,  and  all  that  was  done  in  the  spirit  of  them — th-j 
servant  of  the  Gospel,  which  requires  kindness,  patient  correc- 
tion of  a  straying  brother,  and  in  civil  life  the  sacred  observance 
of  treaties,  he  and  Zurich  must  mourn  over. 


CHAPTER    NINTH 


VAIN   ATTEMPTS   AT   KECONCILIATION.      EXPORTATION    OF  GRAIN  PRO- 
HIBITED.     OUTBREAK  OF   WAR.      BATTLE    OF    CAPPEL. 
ZWINGLI'S   DEATH 


T7 


'^^^^iMi 


^'^  \  HE    more  rapid   the  advance   of 

1    Zurich,  the  slower  that  of   Bera 

became.     She  could  count  less  on 

J  the    support  of  her  own  subjects 

than  the  former.     In  the  Oberland, 

t't-^  the  fire  jet  glowed   beneath   the 

ashes ;  discontent  prevailed  among 


the  mass  of  those,  who  were  punished  on  account 
of  the  rebellion  of  1528.  With  that  rude  people, 
the  Reformation,  hastily  carried  out,  and  not  as  jet 
rooted  in  their  minds  and  hearts,  had  tended  to 
weaken  the  bonds  of  allegiance.  Signs  of  war  ap- 
peared also  in  the  west.  Geneva,  with  whom  she 
had  formed  a  defensive  alliance,  was  threatened  bj 
the  Duke  of  Savoj,  and  not  fullj  reljing  on  her  own 
citizens,  called  on  Bern  for  help.  The  Government  delajed, 
but  finallj  asked  the  Confederates  for  their  usual  contingent. 
The  Five  Cantons  refused  it;  and  Zurich  also,  concerned  for 
her  own  safetj,  hesitated  about  marching  an  armj  to  such  a 
great  distance.     Urged  by  the  repeated  demands  of  Geneva, 

Bern  at  last  sent  out  5  000  men,  who  passed  throuoh  the  Pays 
370  ^         r  o  . 


LIFE    OF    Z  WING  LI.  371 

de  Vaud,  burning  and  pillaging,  to  the  great  terror  of  the  in- 
habitants, and  in  the  end  became  troublesome  in  Geneva  itself, 
through  their  want  of  discipline.  A  treaty  with  Savoy,  con- 
cluded at  St.  Julien,  restored  peace  for  a  while ;  but  the  lack 
of  zeal  manifested  by  Zurich,  in  not  coming  to  the  succor, 
could  not  but  dampen  the  sympathy  of  the  Bernese  in  her  af- 
faii*s. 

Two  new  events  occurred,  to  make  her  condition  only  the 
more  critical.  The  biennial  term  of  the  governor-general  of  St. 
Gall  expired  with  the  close  of  the  year  1530.  A  Luzerner  was 
to  take  the  place  of  the  retiring  Zuricher.  Before  she  would 
give  her  consent  to  the  change,  Zurich  demanded  of  him  a 
public  avowal,  in  favor  of  the  Reformation,  and  an  oath  to  pro- 
tect the  people  of  the  abbacy.  Luzera  entreated  her  to  dis- 
pense with  such  an  avowal,  and  be  content  with  that  oath,  by 
which  he  was  pledged  to  maintain  the  Landfricde,  on  the 
ground  that  this  of  itself  would  serve  to  protect  the  Reforma- 
tion, wherever  introduced  by  a  majority  of  votes.  Zurich  per- 
sisted in  her  demand.  She  wished  all  others  to  put  the  same 
construction  on  the  Landfriede  that  she  did.  In  consequence 
of  this,  the  governor-general  Frei  not  only  refused  to  leave  Wyl, 
but  marched  also  at  the  head  of  an  armed  troop  of  the  abbey- 
people,  beyond  the  limits  of  his  jurisdiction,  to  compel  two 
parishes  in  the  Rheinthal,  where  strife  had  arisen,  to  accept  the 
Reformation.  Vainly  had  Bern,  on  complaint  of  the  Five 
Cantons,  implored  Zurich  to  keep  faith  and  admit  the  Luzernese 
governor-general,  on  the  strength  of  the  pledge  required  by  the 
Landfriede^  thus  giving  his  administration  a  trial.  No  escape 
being  left  for  the  Five  Cantons,  except  an  appeal  to  the  Con- 
federates, a  General  Diet  was  assembled  in  Baden,  on  the  8th 
of  January.  The  unanimous  instruction  of  the  Five  Cantons 
at  this  Diet  shows  the  position  which  they  were  resolved  to  main- 
tain, as  well  as  what  was  expected  from  their  federal  associates. 


.UZ  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

''We  had  hoped/'  so  said  their  deputies  in  accordance  with 
their  commission,  "  that  all  our  Confederates  had  been  suffi- 
ciently convinced  by  deeds,  of  our  firm  purpose  to  uphold  the 
peace  and  all  treaties.  But  to  us  of  the  Five  Cantons,  in  gen- 
eral, and  each  in  particular,  such  manifold  injui-y  has  been 
done,  since  the  treaty  of  the  Land/riede,  so  many  innovations 
exacted,  and  so  many  attacks  made  upon  our  rights,  that  to 
detail  all  this  would  be  an  endless  and  perplexing  task.  Some- 
thing, however,  shall  be  presented,  to  show  that  we  do  not 
complain  without  reason. 

"  In  the  first  place,  we  have  to  speak  about  the  governor- 
generalship  of  St.  Gall.  The  place  fell  by  right,  on  last  St. 
Catharine's  day,  to  our  Confederates  of  Luzern ;  but  you,  Con- 
federates of  Zurich,  prevented  the  governor  from  entering  on 
his  office,  brought  up  new  articles,  which  you  required  him  to 
receive  beforehand,  and  demanded  an  oath  to  the  peasants ;  and 
when  we  justly  complained,  you  sent  in  return  detailed  mis- 
sives, without  any  color  of  law,  (which  may  be  examined,  if 
necessary),  and  formally  refused  in  the  end  to  respect  our 
rights.  We  are  highly  aggrieved  that  any  canton  in  our  Con- 
federacy should  lose  all  regard  to  justice,  and  that  'new  con- 
trivances should  be  found  for  twisting  and  glossing  over  our 
covenants  and  treaties,'  so  that  no  one  may  be  bound  to  let  law 
be  law.  Of  such  'glossing  over,'  our  forefathers  knew  nothing; 
in  their  time  also  everything  went  better  than  now.  Then, 
too,  our  Confederates  of  Schwyz  have  been  denied  justice  in 
another  case.  But,  though  you  may  think,  Confederates  of 
Zurich,  that  you  have  good  reasons  for  acting  thus,  it  yet  does 
not  become  you  to  be  yourselves  the  only  judges  of  the  validity 
of  these  reasons. 

"  Moreover,  the  government  of  the  Territories  has  already 
been  often  discussed  here  in  Baden.  "We  believe,  that  the 
present  resolutions  would  be  valid;  as  soon  as  passed  by  a  ma- 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  373 

joritj  of  the  niling  cantons.  For  if  the  majority  of  votes  is  of 
no  avail  among  those  possessed  of  equal  rights,  how  can  treaties 
ever  exist?  Leagues  and  covenants  are  then  made  in  vain. 
From  rulers  we  become  servants,  if  we  must  do  that  only  which 
is  commanded  by  a  majority  of  one  or  two  cantons.  Indeed, 
in  this  way,  we  would  by  force  and  against  law  be  driven  out 
of  all  the  bailiwicks,  in  which  our  forefathers  won  their  share 
honorably  and  honestly,  by  the  sword  or  by  other  means;  and 
should  we  brook  this  from  those  who  call  themselves  our 
friends  and  Confederates?  God  forbid  I  and  with  His  help  we 
will  not  suffer  it. 

"Touching  that  which  you,  in  connection  with  Glarus  and 
Wallenstadt,  did  there  against  our  rights,  an  impartial  court 
has  been  appointed  according  to  your  own  request;  but  you 
have  threatened,  that  if  the  judges  do  not  decide  in  your  favor, 
you  will  compel  them  so  to  do.  Your  governor  in  St.  Gall,  in- 
stead of  taking  leave,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
has  stirred  up  the  people  of  the  abbacy  and  led  them  into  the 
Rheinthal,  where  neither  you,  nor  yours,  nor  the  governor  have 
any  right  to  act  without  us.  There  he  has  surprised  and  mal- 
treated two  poor  congregations,  because  the  majority  have  re- 
solved to  remain  true  to  the  Old  Faith.  Who  can  live  with 
such  friends,  that  do  them  more  harm  than  enemies?  Though 
we  have  suffered  much  from  you  hitherto,  yet  is  our  manhood 
unextinguished.  We  are  lovers  of  peace.  God  is  with  such. 
He  grants  victory  to  the  despised,  and  truly,  he  has  not  yet 
denied  it  to  us. 

"  We  do  not  wish  at  this  time  to  relate  minutely  all  that  we 
have  experienced  at  your  hands  in  the  Thurgau,  Sargans,  Baden 
and  the  County  of  Toggenburg.  Because,  up  to  this  time,  we 
have  been  everywhere  deprived  of  our  rights,  we  now  send  this 
last  message  to  you  and  all  the  Confederates.  The  deputies 
shall  especially  inquire,  whether,  in  the  future,  you  and  your 

32 


574  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

adherents  will  keep  tlie  federal  compact  and  Landfreide  with 
us,  let  a  majority  be  a  majority,  act  fairly,  and  whether  deeds 
will  go  hand  in  hand  with  your  promises.  If  this  happen, 
then  we  will  pledge  ourselves  also  to  do  all  that  becomes  honest 
Confederates.  But  if  you,  Confederates  of  Zurich,  and  who- 
ever agrees  with  you  in  these  affairs,  will  not  desist  from  your 
undertaking,  nor  return  to  the  federal  compact  and  Landfriede, 
do  not  conceal  it,  so  that  we,  on  our  side,  may  know  what  to 
do.  And,  if  you  are  neither  willing  to  do  the  former,  nor 
make  known  to  us  the  latter,  then  shall  our  deputies  appeal  to 
our  dear  Confederates  of  Glarus,  Freiburg,  Solothurn,  SchafiF- 
hausen  and  Appenzell  in  the  following  manner : 

"  Dear  Confederates,  you  have  now  heard  how  we  have  been 
treated,  since  the  conclusion  of  the  Landfriede.  You  know, 
moreover,  how,  just  lately  at  a  General  Diet  in  Baden,  when 
we  paid  down  the  money  required  by  that  treaty,  Zurich  and 
her  adherents  gave  us  a  promise  to  abide  faithfully  by  the 
federal  compact  and  the  Landfriede^  and  particularly  to  respect 
and  obey  the  majority  in  the  bailiwicks,  as  far  as  worldly  affairs 
are  concerned.  How  they  have  kept  this  promise,  we  leave 
you  to  judge.  Though  we  do  not  now  know,  what  may  be 
done  by  others,  we  yet  feel  bound  to  uphold  the  Landfriede, 
which  we  indeed  have  never  violated,  but  always  observed,  for 
you  are  aware  how  urgently  we  were  solicited  to  pay  over  the 
money  alluded  to,  lest  further  disturbance  might  arise  there- 
from— and  hence  we  demand  and  exhort  you,  by  our  federal 
compact  and  the  Landfriede,  of  which  you  yourselves  are 
parties,  to  aid  and  support  us  in  teaching  the  Zurichers  and 
their  adherents,  that  they  must  observe  these  treaties,  according 
to  their  plain  letter,  and  let  a  majority  be  a  majority,  as  they 
are  bound  to  do  by  all  law,  human  and  divine,  and  that  you 
proceed  therein  with  such  earnestness,  as  becomes  good  Con- 
federates; for  we  will  no  longer  endure  any  mure  violence  of 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  375 

this  sort.  If  no  improvement  takes  place,  we  will  seek  out 
ways  and  means,  to  protect  ourselves  from  injustice  and  abide 
by  our  own  people.  In  this  may  the  Holy  Trinity  aid  us ! 
Now,  we  desire  from  you  a  final  answer,  whether  you  will  help 
us  to  our  rights.  If  not,  we  will  attend  no  more  sessions  of 
the  General  Diet,  and  with  the  best  feelings  do  not  conceal  it 
from  you." 

Of  all  the  charges  made  by  the  Five  Cantons,  Zurich  applied 
none  to  herself.  She  had  never  violated  nor  attacked  their 
Yicrhts  in  worldly  things,  even  in  the  remotest  manner.  How 
could  she  then  pledge  herself  to  restore  these  rights?  The 
whole  dispute  had  arisen  from  an  incorrect,  forced  interpreta- 
tion of  the  Landfriede  by  the  Five  Cantons.  The  governments 
did  not  stand  opposed  to  each  other  in  religious  matters,  and 
the  freedom  of  the  Gospel  or  its  limitation  was  not  to  be  de- 
cided by  a  majority  of  the  ruling  powers  in  the  Territories. 
The  Landfriede  itself  guaranteed  the  former;  therefore  Zurich 
maintained,  that  she  stood  here  also  on  perfectly  legal  ground ; 
and,  in  respect  to  the  governorship  of  St.  Gall,  had  acted  like- 
wise in  the  spirit  of  this  Landfriede,  so  that,  if  the  Luzernese 
governor  was  not  willing  to  comply  with  the  conditions  of 
Zurich,  it  was  not  her  fault. 

From  these  declarations  of  the  parties,  it  is  evident  that  the 
task  of  mediator  was  not  an  easy  one.  A  new  event  occurred, 
to  render  it  still  more  difficult.  At  the  north-eastern  extremity 
of  Lake  Corao,  stood  the  strongly-fortified  mountain-castle  of 
Musso.  It  was  then  occupied  by  Jacob  Midicis,  a  bold  and 
skillful  adventurer,  who  had  played  an  active  part  in  the  earlier 
Italian  wars.  Supported  by  his  hired  bands,  he  frequently 
sailed  forth  from  his  hiding-place,  to  the  great  disturbance  of 
his  neighbors  in  Yaltlin  and  Graubuenden.  He  even  ventured 
to  interrupt  the  commerce  of  Graubuenden  witb  IMilan,  and 
surprised  and  murdered  two  euvoys^  sent  with  complaints  to 


376  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

the  Duke,  on  their  return  home.  Yet  more  dangerous  plana 
of  his,  in  union  with  the  Austrian  authorities,  against  the  Re- 
formed Confederates,  were  talked  of,  and  the  report  received 
some  color  of  truth  from  the  increasing  preparations  for  war, 
as  well  as  an  attack  at  Morbagnio,  upon  the  Graubuendners, 
who  had  marched  out  to  secure  their  possessions,  and  whom, 
after  a  stout  defence,  he  compelled  to  retreat.  An  appeal  was 
now  made  to  the  Confederates  for  armed  assistance.  They  all 
promised,  and  dispatched  5,000  men;  the  Five  Cantons  only 
persevered  in  refusing  to  furnish  their  quota. 

^'Here  you  see,"  said  Zurich  to  the  mediators,  "their  fidelity 
to  the  federal  compact;  here  you  perceive  with  whom  they 
have  secret  intercouse — here,  whether  we  were  wrong  in  pow- 
erfully opposing  the  hypocrites."  But  it  soon  transpired,  that 
Austria  was  not  at  all  concerned  in  this  affair,  and  rather  dis- 
approved the  action  of  Medicis ;  and  the  Five  Cantons  sought 
to  justify  their  inactivity  by  the  necessity  of  defending  their 
own  borders  in  such  critical  times. 

The  states  of  the  Confederacy,  favorable  to  peace,  now  supplied 
the  place  of  Schaffhausen,  who  had  taken  a  decided  stand 
with  the  cities  of  the  Buergerrecht,  by  calling  in  the  French 
embassy.  The  latter  immediately  turned  to  Zwingli  himself. 
"Dear  highly  esteemed  man,"  they  wrote  to  him,  "we  have 
once  before  expressed  our  urgent  wishes  to  thee,  and  thou 
hast  not  answered  us.  Very  lately  the  King  sent  one  of 
his  nobles  to  us  with  another  earnest  command  to  do  all  in 
our  power  in  aiding  to  restore  and  strengthen  peace  and  con- 
cord between  the  Confederates.  In  this  spirit  we  addressed 
ourselves  to  the  deputies  (of  the  cities  of  the  Buergerrecht) 
present  at  Aarau.  Since  we  learn  that  they  will  soon  assemble 
again  in  Zurich,  wo  write  to  thee  also.  We  beg,  we  implore 
thee,,  if,  as  we  doubt  not,  the  peace  and  welfare  of  Helvetia  are 
near  to  thy  heart,  to  do  all  in  thy  power  to  prevent  any  hostile  act 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  377 

against  their  Confederates  from  these  men,  whom  we  honor  and 
esteem,  and  aid  in  bringing  about  a  reconciliation.  Indeed 
this  is  verj  urgent,  for  reasons  which  make  it  necessary,  but 
which  we  have  not  now  time  to  communicate,  they  are  so  many; 
and  if  thou  knowest  them  thyself,  thou  wouldst  esteem  thyself 
happy  in  such  a  work,  and  must  hereafter  in  the  opposite  case 
unavoidably  condemn  thyself;  and  that  thou  canst  produce 
either  the  one  or  the  other,  of  that  we  are  convinced.  If  you 
push  it  to  a  war,  not  six  months  will  go  by  before  it  will  take 
such  a  turn,  that  the  Zurichers  will  be  sorry  enough  for  what 
we  now  know  and  foresee.  "We  pray  thee  think  over  the  con- 
tents of  this  letter ;  perceive  therein  a  proof  of  our  sincere  re- 
gard; inform  us  what  can  be  done  on  your  part  to  give  the 
business  a  happy  direction.  For  ourselves,  nothing  will  gain 
us  greater  thanks  from  the  King.  On  the  contrary,  if  war 
breaks  out  among  you,  the  victorious  party  must  in  the  end 
be  just  as  much  weakened  as  the  otlter.  And  beforehand 
already,  must  they,  who  should  be  afraid  to  cause  it,  be  for- 
saken by  their  friends,  because  the  latter,  engaged  to  other 
allies  also,  must  condemn  such  cruel,  reckless  and  passionate 
conduct." 

Zwingli  did  not  suffer  himself  to  be  moved  by  this  letter, 
and  Zurich  likwise  persevered  in  carrying  out  her  fundamental 
principle,  to  do  everything  for  the  freedom  of  the  Gospel,  even 
where  she  did  not  rule  alone,  or  had  but  a  small  share  of  the 
sovereign  authority — to  do  it  also  in  the  way  of  armed  inter- 
ference, if  negotiation  did  not  suffice.  In  vain  did  the  advo- 
cates of  peace  redouble  their  labors;  in  vain  did  the  warnings 
of  Bern  become  more  and  more  pressing.  The  governor-general 
Frei  still  prolonged  his  official  term  at  Wyl,  stirred  up  the  people 
of  the  abbacy  and  conducted  their  affiiirs.  A  bill  of  purchase 
for  the  monastery  was  made  out  by  the  city  of  St.  Gall,  and  a 
release  of  the  Toggenburgers  from  all  allegiance  to  the  abbey  for 

S2* 


878  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

the  sum  of  15,000  florins,  wliicli  was  ratified  by  Zuricli,  and 
tlirougli  her  exertions  by  Glarus  also,  in  spite  of  protests  from 
Luzern  and  Schwyz.  In  the  Thurgau,  Zwingli  succeeded  in 
applying  the  revenue,  arising  from  fines  in  the  lower  courts,  to 
purposes  of  charity,  against  all  opposition  of  the  magistrates, 
who  had  hitherto  appropriated  them  to  their  own  use.  All  this 
increased  continually  the  number  of  his  enemies  and  the  com- 
plaints at  the  confederate  assemblies,  and  among  the  advocates 
of  peace.  The  language  of  the  Five  Cantons  became  more 
threatening;  the  subjects  of  Zurich,  whom  business  led  into 
the  interior,  were  obliged  to  hear  words  of  bitter  reviling,  and 
were  even  personally  attacked;  one  of  them  had  his  horse  killed 
in  ^geri.  Much  was  reported  about  the  rude  speeches  and 
rough  manners  of  certain  prominent  individuals.  By  all  this, 
on  the  other  hand,  Zurich  sought  to  justify  her  conduct,  and  in 
fact  the  displeasure  of  the  remaining  cities  of  the  Christian 
Buergerreclit  was  kin(Med  anew  against  the  Five  Cantons,  who 
were  not  able  to  quell  the  growing  barbarity  of  many  of  their 
subjects;  a  proof  of  general  corruption  in  morals,  just  where  the 
greatest  boast  was  made  of  ancient  simplicity.  The  Reformer 
meanwhile  had  aided  in  establishing  synods  in  the  Thurgau,  in 
Too:crenburg  and  in  St.  Grail,  and  was  frequently  present  at 
their  sessions.  Everywhere  he  saw  the  resolution  of  a  majority 
of  the  people  to  fight,  if  necessary,  for  the  Gospel.  His  pres- 
ence inspired  confidence  and  respect.  In  St.  Gall  he  was 
honored  by  a  musical  festival,  projected  by  one  of  his  numerous 
friends,  and  in  other  places  he  preached  to  great  crowds  with 
general  applause.  Zurich  should  be  true  to  herself,  was  his 
continual  exhortation,  and  must  persevere  to  the  end.  In 
order,  therefore,  to  exert  a  new  and  powerful  influence  upon 
the  cities  of  the  Bucrgerrccht,  Zurich  invited  them  to  hold  a 
conference;  which,  with  all  in  attendance,  was  opened  on  the 
6th  of  March.     A  detailed  list  of  the  vile  calumnies  to  which 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  379 

influential  leaders  in  the  Five  Cantons  had  given  currency  was 
presented,  the  declared  resolution  of  Zurich  not  to  suffer  them 
any  longer,  and  the  petition  for  aid  to  prevent  and  punish  them 
in  the  future.  Bern  regretted  the  calumnies,  and  acknowledged 
that  Zurich  had  sufficient  reason  to  be  angry,  but  pointed  to  the 
mighty  preparations  for  war,  which  the  enemies  of  the  Refor- 
mation were  making  in  the  Empire  and  Italy.  The  Five  Can- 
tons may  be  well  aware  of  this,  had  perhaps  received  secret 
promises  of  assistance,  and  hence  their  leaders  behaved  more 
rudely  of  late.  Then  the  guilt  of  this  abuse,  though  so  pro- 
voking in  and  of  itself,  should  not  be  charged  upon  the  cantons 
as  a  whole,  but  only  upon  certain  individuals.  Besides,  the 
present  scarcity  of  provisions  should  be  thought  of,  and  the 
very  last  means  for  peace  exhausted,  before  arms  should  be  re- 
sorted to.  Hence  her  deputies  proposed  to  send  an  embassy  to 
the  Five  Cantons,  from  the  collective  cities  of  the  Buergerrecht, 
even  without  Zurich,  if  she  did  not  see  fit  to  join  it.  Earnest 
expostulation  and  at  all  events  a  hint  about  prohibiting  the  ex- 
port of  provisions,  in  case  a  hearing  were  refused,  could  not 
remain  without  its  due  effect.  Basel  said  that  sending  embas- 
sies and  letters  were  useless.  The  overbearing  disposition  of 
these  people,  as  well  as  their  rudeness,  was  well  known. — 
Deputies  could  easily  meet  in  such  a  way  as  would  only  widen 
the  breach.  Let  us  once  more  call  a  Diet  at  Baden  and  bring 
up  there  our  common  complaints.  Together  we  will  demand 
a  speedy  remedy.  If  they  promise,  it  is  wellj  if  not,  our 
honor  is  preserved,  though  we  break  asunder.  Schaffhausen 
and  St.  Gall  expressed  the  same  opinion,  and  Bern  likewise  fell 
in  with  the  invitation. 

Meanwhile,  the  latter  had  not  been  wrong  in  her  conjecture. 
There  were  yet  many  undoubtedly  in  the  Five  Cantons,  who 
were  neither  guilty  of  such  rough  sayings  and  doings  them- 
selves, nor  approved  of  them  in  others.     Indeed,  the  majority 


380  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

of  the  rulers  saw  well  that  their  position,  hitherto  not  unfavor- 
able, would  be  endangered  thereby;  and  willingly  would  they 
have  put  away  all  such  things,  had  it  been  possible  to  change 
the  nature  of  the  people.  Hence  their  deputies,  to  secure 
whose  attendance  Bern  had  made  great  exertions,  appeared  in 
the  General  Diet  at  Baden  with  a  tolerable  degree  of  modesty. 

They  desired  a  copy  of  the  complaints  of  Zurich,  answered 
them  as  they  were  brought  forward,  point  by  point,  as  far  as 
they  could  do  this  beforehand,  declared  the  willingness  of  their 
lords  to  punish  yet  more  severely  after  due  investigation,  and 
excused  their  people  by  the  fact  that  they  also  were  obliged  to 
hear  many  a  bitter  speech  among  the  Reformed,  and  one  rude 
word  begets  another.  Their  faith  too  had  been  frequently  as- 
sailed by  the  preachers,  the  mass  spoken  of  with  contempt,  and 
they  themselves  called  ^blood-sellers'  and  'money-eaters,'  in 
the  pulpit.  The  sooner  the  cities  would  find  out  that  such 
things  were  also  punishable,  the  more  ready  would  they  on 
their  side  be  to  deal  likewise  with  the  unruly,  and  if  their  sen- 
tences would  sometimes  be  less  severe  than  the  cities  had  ex- 
pected, they  were  at  liberty  to  treat  the  perpetrators  according 
to  their  own  pleasure,  whenever  they  came  within  their  juris- 
diction. At  this  juncture,  the  neutral  cantons  earnestly  ex- 
horted the  one  party  to  fulfill  its  promises,  and  the  other  to  be 
satisfied  with  them.  But  when  the  deputies  of  the  Five  Can- 
tons wish'^^.d  to  speak  yet  about  the  state  of  the  Territories,  the 
Zurichers  declared  that  they  had  no  authority  to  touch  upon 
these  things,  and  so  they  parted,  Zurich  and  the  Five  Cantons ; 
neither  put  in  a  right  position,  nor  brought  nearer  to  each 
other. 

But  the  former  and  Zwingli,  in  chief,  were  not  at  all  inclined 
to  be  satisfied  with  what  was  done.  They  saw  increasing  dan- 
ger in  the  continued  postponement  of  all  active  interference. 
His  sermons  became  warlike.     Help  must  be  extended  to  the 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  381 

oppressed  in  the  Five  Cantons;  the  multitude  of  those,  who 
desired  the  freedom  of  the  Gospel,  but  from  whom  it  was  with- 
held in  the  most  unjust  and  violent  manner,  against  the  plain 
meaning  of  the  Land/riede.  "  There  is  no  longer  any  safety,'^ 
said  Zwingli  in  the  pulpit,  ^Hill  the  Reformation  is  thoroughly 
carried  out.  Its  enemies  would  long  ago  have  given  way,  had 
we  only  banished  from  our  own  midst  all  lukewarm,  indifferent 
persons,  and  all  secret  traitors.  Against  these  we  must  now 
proceed  with  untiring  zeal  and  unfaltering  purpose,  even  in  the 
cities  of  the  Buerger recJit.  Our  allies  must  be  brought  to 
support  us  in  this,  and  not  drag  us  down  with  them  into  the 
abyss  through  their  culpable  negligence."  A  deputation  was 
now  sent  thither,  composed  of  members  of  the  Council,  who 
visited  Bern,  Basel,  Shaffhausen  and  St.  Gall,  and  communi- 
cated an  enlarged  list  of  grievances,  the  warnings  that  had  ar- 
rived from  abroad,  and  a  review  of  the  conduct  of  the  Five 
Contons  in  the  affair  with  the  tyrant  of  Musso,  in  which  they 
were  accused  of  breach  of  covenant  and  a  desire  to  bring  about 
the  ruin  and  destruction  of  the  city  of  Zurich,  as  well  as  the 
dismemberment  of  a  glorious  Confederacy.  '^  We  can  no  longer, 
in  any  way,  keep  quiet  and  yet  justify  ourselves  before  our 
own  people.  We  can,  may,  and  will  no  longer  let  the  matter 
drop,  but  undertake  everything,  which  the  high  and  serious 
nature  of  the  case  demands,  everything  which  may  be  needful 
for  the  maintenance  of  Divine  truth,  and  the  deliverance  of 
all  who  adhere  to  the  same.'^  The  answers  of  the  collective 
cities  were  asked  for  with  all  possible  dispatch. 

They  arrived  after  a  few  days.  Bern  wrote  in  a  grave  and  mod 
crate  tone  ',  she  greatly  deplored  the  continued  disturbances  of 
the  peace;  yet,  "since  matters  had  come  so  far,  and  out  of  re- 
gard to  their  dangerous  course,''  she  prayed  Zurich  for  this 
time  to  use  no  violence  against  the  Five  Cantons,  but  remain 
quiet  till   the  next  Buergertag  (diet  of  the   cities)  in  Aarau; 


382  LIFE    OF   Z^VINGLI. 

to  wliich  she  had  summoned  her,  Basel,  Schaffhausen,  St.  Gall, 
Biel  and  Constance.  She  said  also,  she  was  now  compelled  to 
declared  positively,  that  if  her  Confederates  and  Christian  eo- 
burghers  of  Zurich  should  ever  employ  any  actual  force,  tliey 
need  count  on  no  lielp  from  her ;  and  might  shape  their  plans 
accordingly.  Basel  and  SchajBhausen  showed  far  more  sym- 
pathy, but  likewise  wished  for  a  general  consultation  before 
further  steps  were  taken.  St.  Gall  begged  Zurich  to  try  peaceful 
measures  once  more ;  and  if  in  vain,  she  then  pledged  herself 
to  abide  true  to  her  obligations. 

Zurich  promised  to  attend  the  appointed  diet,  but  did  not 
suspend  the  preparations  for  war,  which  she  had  already  begun. 
Her  deputies,  the  burgomaster  Roist,  the  banneret  Schweizer 
and  Jost  von  Knosen,  appeared  in  Aarau  with  binding  instruc- 
tions. They  were  to  surrender  nothing,  hear  no  more  plans 
of  mediation,  and  consent  to  no  longer  delay  of  punishment. 
Bern  persevered  just  as  decidedly  in  protesting  against  any 
breach  of  the  peace.  By  the  urgent  solicitation  of  the  others, 
the  Zurichers  were  at  last  prevailed  on,  to  give  the  decisive 
answer  in  their  own  city,  whither  the  collective  deputies  now 
went  with  them,  in  order  to  lay  the  matter  before  the  Council 
itself.  They  were  already  agreed  among  themselves  in  no  case 
to  go  further  than  consent  to  proclaim  and  execute,  in  common 
with  Zurich,  a  decree  against  the  export  of  provisions,  as  pro- 
posed by  Bern,  and  that  only  when  all  other  milder  measures 
were  exhausted. 

With  one  accord  they  began  to  entreat  the  Council  to  lay 
aside  all  warlike  preparations,  not  wantonly  to  disturb  the  in- 
ternal peace,  whilst  danger  threatened  from  without,  not  to 
carry  bloodshed  into  the  rural  districts,  where  so  many  inno- 
cent people  were  yot  living,  not  to  destroy  the  ripening  harvest, 
the  only  hope  of  the  poor,  of  so  many  widows  and  orphans ;  but 
Zurich  vehemently  resisted  and  would  not  give  way  in  the 


com- 
reu 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  383 

least.     Once  before,  said  the  Councils,  against  our  convictions, 
in  order  to  please  others,  we  consented   to  a  peace,  which  has 
only  resulted  in  our  greater  injury.     Shall  we  now  do  it  agaiu, 
and  let  slip  out  of  our  hands  the  advantage  which  we  at  this 
moment  possess?     To  wait  till  the  Emperor,  till  Austria  comes 
to  their  aid,  or  perchance  lends  secret  support  to  Medicis— to 
hope  for  truth  and  faithfulness  among  those,  to  whom  nothing'- 
could  be  more  welcome  than  our  total  destruction  ?     The  pro- 
posal also  to  lay  an  injunction  on  the  export  of  provisions  found 
no  favor  in  the  beginning.     This  remedy  was  thought  more 
hateful  than  war  itself.     An  honorable  war  was  not  contrary  to 
the  Word  of  God ;  but  it  would  be  unchristian  to  cut  off  bread 
from  the  mouths  of  the  guilty  and  the  innocent— thus 
pletely  destroying  the  old,  the  sick,  pregnant  woman,  child 
and  those  otherwise  oppressed  by  the  tyranny  of  the  Five  Can- 
tons.    Bern  endeavored  to  show  the  contrary,  and  the  others 
joined  her.     Bloody  deeds  once  done  could  no  more  be  recalled, 
whilst  the  enemy  at  any  moment  could  put  an  end  to  the  want 
occasioned  by  the  prohibition,  by  simply  giving  satisfaction. 
At  last  Zurich  submitted,  although,  as  it  runs  in  the  record, 
'^reluctantly  and  sadly,  only  for  the  honor  and  pleasure  of  the 
allies.'^ 

But  Zwingli  was  so  highly  displeased  with  the  resolution, 
that,  according  to  Bullinger's  narrative,  he  censured  it  even  in 
the  pulpit.  "  He  who  is  so  bold,''  said  he,  "  as  to  call  another 
Miar,'  to  the  face,  must  let  word  and  blow  go  together.  If  he 
does  not  smite  he  will  be  smitten.  Ye  men  of  Zurich,  have 
cut  off  the  supply  of  provisions  from  the  Five  Cantons  as  evil- 
doers. Then  ought  ye  now  to  follow  the  blow,  and  not  leave 
the  innocent  poor  to  starve.  But  since  you  sit  still,  as  though 
you  had  not  sufficient  reason  for  the  punishment,  you  will  oblige 
them  to  beat  and  punish  you,  and  this  too  will  be  done." 
Immediately  after  the  passage  of  the  act,  on  the  21st  of  Mav, 


384  "^  LIFE  OP   ZWINGLI. 

Bern  issued  her  declaration  to  the  Five  Cantons,  in  the  follow- 
ing words:  "Although,  at  the  time  of  its  ratification,  it  was 
everywhere  published  and  forbidden  by  the  Land/riedej  that 
one  party  should  attack  the  faith  of  the  other,  or  do  them  in- 
jury in  person,  honor  or  property,  or  revile  or  abuse  them;  al- 
though we,  on  our  side,  have  obeyed,  and  punished  our  people 
in  case  of  transgression,  and  although  your  deputies,  a  short 
while  ago  at  Baden,  gave  pledge  that  the  same  would  ^be  done 
by  you;  nevertheless  it  has  never  been  done.    We,  our  neighbors 
and  our  subjects,  contrary  to  all  justice,  in   defiance  of  the 
federal  compact  and  sworn  treaties,  have  been  reviled  as  rogues, 
heretics,  villains,  in   every  insulting  manner,  and  accused  of 
scandalous  crimes,  by  you  and  yours;  of  which  we  gave  you 
notice  in  writing,  in  March  of  this  year.     We  have  borne  it 
with  patience,  overlooked  it,   and  urgently  exhorted  you  to 
punish  the  evil-doers  according  to  their  deserts.     It  has  never 
been  done,  and  we  must  believe  that  you  yourselves  take  pleasure 
in  it.     Indeed  we  would  have  more  than  enough  of  right  and 
authority  to  proceed  against  you  at  once;  but,  that  the  inno- 
cent,  the  widows  and  the  orphans  may  be  spared,  we  have 
chosen  a  milder  remedy,  which  we  are  permitted  to  use  by 
the  Landfriede  itself,  in  case  you  refuse  to  obey  its  stipulations. 
Therefore,  from  the  coming  Whitsunday,  neither  you  nor  yours 
shall  approach  our  lands  and  territories  in  any  manner,  or  carry 
away  from  them  anything,  by  which  man  must  live,  until  you 
have  punished,  according  to  the  weight  and  magnitude  of  their 
words  and  deeds,  according  to  their  desert,  in  person,  honor 
and  property,  the  insolent,  wanton  revilers  and  abusers,  whom 
we  have  pointed  out  to  you,  and  whom  you  will  soon  discover 
for  yourselves;   till  you  once  go  earnestly  to  work,  and  have 
put  away  such  unmanly  and  unchristian  doings,  so  that  we  and 
ours  may  remain  secure  in  the  presence  of  you  and  yours;  for 
such  downright  injustice,  such  words  of  scandal  and  shame,  we 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI.  385 

are  no  longer  able  to  endure.  Take  your  measures  accord- 
ino-lj."  On  the  27th  of  May,  followed  the  declaration  of  Zurich 
still  more  ample  in  its  details  and  more  severe. 

What  Zwingli  had  correctly,  and  what  the  well-meaning  ad- 
vocates of  peace  still  more  correctly  anticipated,  became  more 
and  more  evident  from  day  to  day.  The  cities  of  the  Buercjcr- 
recht  who  had  mutually  pledged  themselves  ''to  persevere  to- 
gether and  not  lay  aside  the  prohibition,  except  by  the  common 
consent  and  knowledge  of  all,"  could  neither  retreat  nor  advance. 
It  did  not,  as  they  hoped  it  would,  rouse  up  every  power,  hurry 
along  the  cautious  and  irresolute  and  unite  them  all  together. 
Instead  of  this,  it  gave  them  time  for  reflection,  time  to  con- 
sider the  matter  on  all  sides;  censures  were  heard;  the  feelings 
were  appealed  to,  especially  pity,  which  found  eloquent  advo- 
cates in  the  frontier  districts.  On  the  other  hand,  the  exas- 
peration of  the  Catholics  increased  from  week  to  week,  and 
overpowered  gradually  those  who  were  hitherto  peacefully  in- 
clined, and  as  want  penetrated  their  abodes,  even  the  secret 
friends  of  the  Reformation.  ''It  is  barbarous.  Our  forefathers 
never  dealt  thus  with  each  other.  If  individuals  have  sinned, 
is  it  fair  that  innocent  woman  and  children  should  suffer  for  it  ?  " 
Skilfully  was  this  disposition  made  us  of,  by  those  particularly, 
who  were  conscious  of  their  own  guilt.  They  did  everything 
to  represent  the  measure  in  its  most  hateful  light.  "No  giving 
way,  till  the  prohibition  is  raised,' '  was  heard  in  all  parts  of 
the  country,  resounded  from  every  quarter  against  the  advocates 
of  peace,  who  still  did  not  relax  their  efforts,  but  wrote  letters, 
and  traveled  from  place  to  place  with  unwearied  zeal.  Courage 
rose  with  the  pressure  of  want.  "  "We  must  go  and  fetch  the 
food,  which  is  so  inhumanly  denied  us.''  So  far  from  opposing, 
their  Reformed  neighbors  frequently  aided  them  in  these  at- 
tempts. Provisions  were  concealed  in  bales  of  goods,  which 
were  allowed  to  cross  the  line,  and  verv  often  the  Bernese 

38 


386  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

autliorities  were  deceived  by  their  own  subjects  to  tbe  advantage 
of  tlie  needy.  And  we  do  not  find,  that,  when  discovered, 
such  proofs  of  brotherly  compassion,  and  perhaps  even  of  a 
secret  leaning  toward  the  old  system,  were  severely  punished 
by  them. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  prohibition,  once  declared,  was 
sternly  carried  out  by  Zurich.  With  the  rest,  it  was  only 
form;  with  her,  reality.  By  an  embassy  to  Glarus  she  induced 
the  Landsgenieine  (commons)  of  that  canton,  with  a  majority, 
it  is  true,  of  only  about  thirty  votes,  to  adopt  it  as  a  principle, 
and  as  soon  as  this  was  accomplished,  she  demanded  of  Wesen 
and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Territory  of  Gaster,  subjects  of 
Glarus,  but  at  the  same  time  also  of  Schwyz,  to  execute  the 
prohibition  against  the  latter.  At  this,  Bern  was  highly  dis- 
pleased, and  wrote  to  Zurich:  "We  beg  you  to  consider  how 
hard  it  is  for  a  subject  to  refuse  provisions  to  his  lord,  and 
therefore  to  act  moderately  and  not  be  too  rash,  remembering 
how  willingly  you  would  receive  it  from  your  own,  if  they  were 
to  deny  you  saleable  commodities;  think  well  over  the  matter.'' 
This  remonstrance  had  little  effect  upon  Zurich,  and  henceforth 
the  hateful  features  of  a  measure,  which  she  had  originally 
opposed  with  all  her  power,  and  only  adopted,  because  no  other 
way  of  escape  stood  open,  became  more  and  more  visible. 

At  this  juncture,  envoys  from  Freiburg,  Solothurn  and  Ap- 
penzell,  along  with  the  tvro  ambassadors  of  France,  appeared 
again  in  Zurich  with  ofTers  of  aid  in  new  negotiations  for  peace. 
The  Frenchmen  declared,  that  the  people  of  Vhq  Five  Cantons 
had  asked  for  their  intercession,  and  although  their  statement 
before  the  Council  was  ill-received,  on  account  of  certain  allu- 
sions to  the  passionate  behavior  of  Zurich  as  not  strictly  evan- 
gelical, still  the  latter  consented  to  attend  another  General  Diet 
of  the  Confederacy,  to  be  held  at  Brcmgarten,  because  Zurich  and 
Bern  re(\iscd  to  appear  in  Baden,  which  they  blamed  for  an 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  387 

offensive  partiality  toward  the  Five  Cantons.  The  meeting 
took  place  on  the  14th  of  June.  It  was  attended  by  all  the 
States,  by  deputies  from  the  city  of  Chur,  from  the  Three 
Leagues  (the  Grisons),  from  Wallis  (  Valai's),  from  Rothweil, 
from  the  lanclgr aviate  of  the  Thurgau  and  the  nobility  there, 
and  from  the  district  of  Sargan,  as  well  as  by  the  French  am- 
bassadors, and  those  of  the  Duke  of  Milan,  and  the  Countess  of 
Neuenberg.  Gervasius  Schuler  and  Henry  Bullinger  preached 
sermons  in  favor  of  reconciliation  and  concord;  but  how  could 
the  negotiations  proceed,  when  the  Five  Cantons  demanded  the 
raising  of  the  prohibition,  before  a  single  word  should  be  spoken  ? 
To  own  thus  publicly  that  they  were  wrong,  and  had  acted 
hastily,  was  too  much  even  for  Bern,  and  hence  she  united  with 
Zurich  in  requiring,  before  any  promise  to  raise  the  prohibition 
could  be  made,  a  declaration  on  the  part  of  the  Five  Cantons, 
that  they  would  abide  by  the  Landfriede^  so  interpreted,  that 
the  free  preaching  of  the  Gospel  would  be  secure  not  merely  in 
the  Territories,  but  in  districts  also  immediately  under  the  rule 
of  its  adversaries.  By  this  means  the  breach  became  yet 
wider,  and  the  humor  in  which  the  deputies  of  the  Five  Cantons 
took  their  leave,  led  those  of  the  burgher-cities  to  look  for  speedy 
and  dangerous  results.  Before  parting  they  consulted  over  the 
most  urgent  measures.  Zurich  affirmed,  there  were  certain  in- 
dications, that  the  Five  Cantons  were  arming  and  would  ap- 
pear on  the  frontiers  under  pretext  of  carrying  away  grain,  but 
at  the  same  time  with  the  determined  purpose  of  making  a 
formal  invasion.  It  would  be  prudent  to  anticipate  them;  at 
any  rate  to  appoint  leaders  and  a  place  of  rendezvous  for  soldiers 
at  once,  and  to  agree  upon  a  plan  for  a  campaign  in  case  of 
necessity.  The  deputies,  with  the  exception  of  those  from 
Basel  and  St.  Gall,  said  that  they  had  no  authority  for  going 
so  far.  If  Zurich  were  attacked,  the  Bernese  thought  she 
should  ^^  not  be  too  ardent,  and  overshoot  the  mark,  but  wait 


388  LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI 

for  an  advantage  and  not  make  assault,  until  well  assured,  though 
obliged  to  restrain  one  hamlet,  or  two  or  three  together,  and 
then  she  should  hasten  to  inform  us  and  the  other  Christian 
CO  burghers  of  it,  and  then  we  of  Bern  will  send  quickly  such 
a  number  of  people  as  we  think  advisable,  and  with  the  rest, 
because  we  have  to  keep  an  eye  on  the  Walliscrs,  will  press 
against  the  Luzerners  and  Unterwaldners,  so  that  the  Five 
Cantons  will  be  compelled  to  keep  themselves  apart." 

Meanwhile  the  advocates  for  peace  were  unwearied  in  their 
efforts.  x\lready  a  second  meeting  in  Bremgarten  was  appoint- 
ed, and  the  French  ambassadors,  on  the  4th  of  July,  addressed 
Zurich  and  Bern  once  more.  "  Some  days  ago,"  they  wrote, 
^'several  respectable  men  from  the  Five  Cantons  were  with  us, 
not,  it  is  true,  in  an  official  capacity.  They  gave  us  a  lively 
picture  of  the  distress  in  their  country,  and  exhorted  us  to  beg 
you  to  exercise  that  charity  toward  them,  which  is  due  from 
one  Christian  to  another.  They  assured  us,  that  by  a  voluntary 
raising  of  the  prohibition,  you  would  so  win  upon  the  heart  of 
the  Five  Cantons,  that  any  reasonable  demand  of  yours  would 
readily  be  granted,  and  the  most  obstinate  even  would  be 
obliged  to  give  way.  Therefore,  mighty  lords,  we  have  con- 
sented, for  the  honor  of  God,  for  the  sake  of  the  King,  and  in 
obedience  to  that  precept  of  the  Gospel,  which  you  profess: 
^Love  not  your  friends  only,  but  your  enemies  also',  urgently  to 
beseech  you:  Do  away  with  this  misery!  Remember,  that 
they  are  your  Christian  brethren,  your  neighbors ',  that  they 
speak  your  own  language;  that  you  are  one  nation,  friends, 
kinsmen — were  united  in  old  times,  and  must  be  again  in  the 
future.  Show  love  and  mercy  toward  them,  as  you  would  wish 
them  to  do  toward  you.  Withhold  not  from  them  that  bless- 
ing, which  God  has  bestowed  on  you.  Regard  not  the  words 
of  abuse,  nor  anything  else,  by  which  they  have  injured  you. 
Thousands  among  them  are  innocent  of  these  things;  as  was 


LIFE   OF    ZWINGLI.  389 

indeed  abundantly  sliown  in  Bremgarten.  Truly  you  will  fol- 
low the  command  of  God,  you  will  act  as  the  Grospel  teaches; 
in  future  generations  it  will  bring  you  honor.  Wise  and  be- 
loved lords,  we  write  in  haste  before  the  Diet  meets  again. 
We  wish  to  put  an  end  to  the  famine  as  speedily  as  possible. 
Fulfil  our  prayers,  and  we  pledge  you  our  King  will  remember 
the  favor  and  repay  it  gladly,  as  far  as  in  him  lies." 

It  is  not  surprising,  that  upon  a  portion  of  the  councils  at 
least,  some  eifect  should  be  produced  by  such  appeals,  and  no 
less  by  the  reports  concerning  the  disposition  of  their  own 
people,  which  reached  them  from  time  to  time.  One  of  these 
was  communicated  to  Zurich  by  the  commander  of  Hitzkirch, 
Albert  von  Muelinen.  It  related  to  an  event,  that  occured  in 
a  popular  assembly  at  Lenzburg.  The  government  of  Bern  had 
called  it  together,  partly  to  correct  false  rumors  by  a  special 
deputation,  and  partly  to  explain  the  reasons  of  the  prohibition 
and  exhort  the  people  to  perform  their  duty  in  case  of  need. 
When  now  they  were  formally  enjoined  so  to  do,  one 
cried  out :  "  Where  is  it  written  in  the  Gospel  that  we  must 
deny  food  to  our  neighbor?"  another:  '^We  will  have  no  war 
for  religions'  sake,*  if  they  are  not  willing  to  believe  in  God, 
let  them  stick  to  the  devil !"  Another  wished  a  delegate  to  be 
sent  to  Bremgarten,  and  others  still  referred  to  a  declaration 
of  the  government  made  at  the  opening  of  the  Reformation, 
that  it  should  begin  and  end  in  peace.  The  resokite  behavior 
of  the  Bernese  deputies  was  scarcely  able  to  prevent  an  actual 
outbreak  on  the  part  of  the  malcontents. 

Under  such  circumstances,  the  inactivity  of  some,  the  per- 
plexity of  others,  and  the  ill-humor  of  a  third  class,  rendered 
Zwingli's  situation  more  difl&cult  from  day  to  day,  as  the  num- 
ber of  those,  who  blamed  him  with  all  the  evil,  and  pointed 
him  out  as  an  unceasing  author  of  mischief,  continued  to  in- 
crease even  in  Zurich.     Fierce  was  the  anger  of  the  Nobles' 


390  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

Guild,  because  six  of  its  members,  accused  of  hostility  to  the 
Reformation,  had  been  obliged,  chiefly  through  his  exertions, 
to  withdraw,  part  from  the   Great  and  part  from  the  Small 
Council.     The  majority  of  the  millers  and  bakers  also  opposed 
him,  because  they  attributed  the  fact,  that  the  authorities  had 
of  late  become  far  more  strict   in   their  supervision,  to  his 
preaching.      "For,  from   the  most  ancient  times,^'  Bullinger, 
who  narrates  this,  adds,  "preachers  have  had  to  bear  the  blame, 
when  obliged  to  preach  against  anything  done  contrary  to  the 
Word  of  God."     To  the  burgher  of  the  town,  it  was  pretended 
by  his  enemies,  that  he  was  seeking  the  favor  of  the  country- 
people,  in  order  by  their  aid  to  keep  down  the  cities ;  to  the 
country-man,  who,  in  the  present  condition  of  things,  saw  his 
cottage,  his  undefended  property,  the  life  and  fortune  of  his 
family  in   continual  peril,  that  he  alone  stood  in  the  way  of 
peace  with  the   Five   Cantons.     Intrigue,  mistrust,   disunion 
reigned  in  the  Council  itself.     It  became  more  and  more  diffi- 
cult  to  find  suitable   persons  to  execute  important  missions. 
Several  of  the  most  experienced  statesmen  endeavored  to  with- 
draw.   The  well-meaning  sighed  over  the  inextricable  confusion. 
Matters  had  already  come  to  such  a  pass,  that  a  feeling  of 
his  own  forsaken  condition  took  hold  of  the  Reformer  himself. 
"  Hence  he  came,"  as  Bullinger  informs  us,  "before  the  Council 
and  burghers,  on  the  26th  of  July,  and  told  how  he  had  now 
preached  the  Gospel  for  eleven  years,  and  warned  them  with 
the  fidelity  of  a  father,  and  thoroughly  and  often  and  abund-  . 
antly  pointed  out,  amongst  other  things,  what  evil  would  ensue 
to  them  and  the  Common  Confederacy,  if  the  Five  Cantons,  i.  e. 
the  crew  of  pensioners,  should  get  the  upper  hand.     All  this 
had  no  effect  upon  them.     It  could  easily  be  seen  that  there 
were  yet  those  in  the  Council,  who  did  not  disdain  the  wages 
of  blood,  and  were  the  best  friends  of  the  Five  Cantons  and 
enemie.j  to  the   Gospel.     Further,  the  city  had  managed  ill 


Lli'E    OF    ZWIXGLI.  S9l 

and  could  expect  liltle  good  to  come  of  it.  And  because  she 
would  not  follow  him  and  the  truth,  and  he  was  continually 
blamed  for  every  disaster  that  happened,  he  would  now  bid 
them  farewell."  He  said  this  with  tears,  according  to  the 
testimony  of  Werner  Steiner,  one  of  his  friends,  and  then  left 
the  council-house. 

The  alarm  was  general;  much  was  said  here  and  there.  At 
last  the  two  burgomasters  and  several  of  the  most  prominent 
members  were  commissioned  to  persuade  him  to  retract  his 
resolution.  The  meeting  took  place  about  noon  of  the  same 
day.  Zwingli  asked  time  for  reflection;  and  on  the  29th  of 
July  appeared  again  before  the  Council  to  say  that  he  would 
not  abandon  the  post,  in  which  the  city  had  placed  him  until 
death.  The  effect  of  this  declaration  was  soon  manifest  in  the 
reviving  spirit  of  the  Council.  None  of  its  members  were  per- 
mitted to  resign,  and  on  the  6th  of  August  the  following 
ordinance  was  published :  '^That  for  some  time  past  manifold 
discord,  anger  and  contrariety  have  arisen  in  the  Councils  and 
among  the  burghers,  so  that  certain  individuals  have  frequently 
refused  to  execute  the  business  and  commands  imposed  upon 
them,  and  thereby  encouraged  others  to  purpose  the  same,  is  well 
known  to  us ;  and  we  desire  that  every  one,  be  he  of  the  Small 
or  of  the  Great  Council,  when  entrusted  with  an  embassy, 
on  horseback  or  otherwise,  will  dutifully  perform  it,  unless  he 
make  oath  that  he  could  not  do  so,  without  the  sacrifice  of  his 
life.  If  any  fail  in  this  duty,  he  shall  be  arraigned,  and  an  in- 
quiry held  as  to  the  proper  punishment." 

Zwingli,  seeing  the  chief  danger  in  the  vacillation  of  Bern 
and  her  lack  of  energy,  resolved,  since,  just  at  that  time, 
another  meeting  in  Bremgarten  had  been  brought  about  by  the 
advocates  of  peace,  to  use  all  his  personal  influence  with  Jacob 
von  Wattenwyl  and  Peter  im  Haag,  the  Bernese  deputies  there. 
He  ent-ercd  the  city  at  night-fall,  accompanied  by  Peter  Collin 


392  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

and  Werner  Steiuer.  The  consultation  took  place  immediately, 
in  the  house  of  BuUinger  and  in  his  presence.  They  all  agreed 
that  it  was  now  too  late  to  recall  the  prohibition,  except  the 
Five  Cantons  would  first  yield.  Such  a  step  of  weakness  would 
only  render  them  more  overbearing.  But  to  carry  it  out,  and 
yet  remain  at  peace,  was  still  more  doubtful.  The  oppressed 
would  rise  up,  and  then  all  the  injury,  resulting  from  the  inva- 
sion, and  every  kind  of  reproach,  would  be  heaped  upon  them. 
Whether  Zwingli  gave  any  further  counsel,  is  not  stated  in 
Bullinger's  narrative.  He  simply  adds,  "  the  Bernese  promised 
to  do  their  best.''  At  all  events,  the  Reformer  departed  with 
a  heavy  heart.  As  if  conscious  that  he  would  never  meet  again 
on  earth  the  friend,  who  went  with  him  as  fiir  as  the  city-gate, 
he  took  leave  of  him  with  weeping  eyes,  repeating  three  times 
the  words :  ''  God  keep  thee,  dear  Henry,  and  be  thou  faithful 
to  the  Lord  Christ ! " 

This  scene  occurred  on  the  night  of  St.  Laurence's  day,  and 
just  at  that  time,  according  to  BuUinger,  the  famous  comet  of 
1531  first  became  visible.  Zwiogli  gazed  at  it  from  the  church- 
yard of  the  Great  Minster.  ''What  can  it  portend?"  was  the 
question  put  to  him  by  the  abbot  George  Mueller  of  Wettingen, 
in  accordance  with  the  belief  of  the  age.  "  It  will  cost  me,  my 
George,  me  and  many  an  honorable  man  his  life.  The  truth 
and  the  Church  will  sufi'er  calamity,  but  God  will  not  forsake 
them!"  In  the  pulpit  he  spake  in  a  similar  strain :  "Thou 
wilt  not  punish  pride,  0  Zurich.  Well  then  !  thou  wilt  be 
punished  thyself;  a  hedge  of  thorns  will  bristle  about  thy  head. 
The  chain  is  forged,  which  will  twist  my  neck  and  that  of  many 
a  pious  Zuricher.  Still,  God  will  maintain  His  Word,  and 
pride  will  have  its  fall. 

It  seems  that  he  was  already  familiar  with  the  thought  of  an 
early  death.  Indeed,  who  knows  if  he  did  not  desire  it?  What 
could  vindicate  him  in  the  face  of  his  accusers  and  enemies 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLT.  393 

raging  on  all  sides,  like  perseverance  to  the  end,  like  deatli  in 
defence  of  his  cause,  the  freedom  of  that  Gospel,  from  which 
alone  he  could  hope  for  a  better  future,  the  regeneration  of  his 
fatherland,  of  humanity?  He  may  indeed  at  this  crisis  have 
glanced  back  over  his  past  life,  and  examined  himself,  whether 
he  was  as  blameless  as  he  was  steadfast,  whether  the  good  spirit 
had  not  forsaken  him.  A  clear  conscience  could  bear  witness 
that  he  had  never  sought  anything,  save  the  truth  and  the  wel- 
fare and  honor  of  his  country.  Perhaps  in  solitary  moments  the 
Cjuestion  may  have  come  up  before  him:  "Art  thou  equally 
content  with  all  the  means  which  thou  hast  employed  1'" 

This  was  the  serious  question.  The  answer  could  be  more 
or  less  satisfactory,  just  as  the  Reformer  understood  the  mission 
of  his  life.  "  The  years  of  our  life  are  three  score  and  ten, 
and  by  reason  of  strength  they  may  be  four  score.''  As  a  rule, 
the  half  of  this  period  may  be  devoted  to  active  duties.  He, 
then,  who  does  not  shrink  from  laying  before  the  world  the  re- 
sults of  honest  research  and  conviction;  he  who  breaks  a  path 
and  removes  obstacles,  that  stand  in  the  way  of  others ;  he  who 
wishes  not  only  to  sow  but  to  reap,  to  behold  the  rich  fruits  of 
his  labor,  can  neither  be  idle  nor  reflect  too  long,  in  every  case, 
about  the  choice  of  means.  These  are  often,  in  and  of  them- 
selves, by  no  means  blameless,  and  yet  the  only  ones  by  which 
the  end  can  be  speedily  attained;  for  usually  adversaries  are  to 
be  dealt  with  who  are  not  all  scrupulous  themselves.  They 
must  be  beaten  by  their  own  weapons.  Such  in  all  ages,  has 
been  the  policy  of  men,  especially  those  whom  history  calls 
great.  The  Jesuits  were  neither  the  first,  nor  the  only  politi- 
cians who  adopted  the  maxim,  that  the  end  sanctifies  the 
means;  although  they  perhaps  have  given  it  the  most  damnable 
application.  If  a  man  is  fully  bound  by  his  calling  to  act  with 
promptness  and  decision,  if  the  present  generation,  or  his  father- 
land, sufi"ers  or  gains  by  his  action,  then  his  task  is  doubly 


894  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

difficult,  and  cases  may  be  supposed,  wliere  lie  is  not  left  free 
to  clioose  between  means  that  are  censurable  and  those  that 
are  praiseworthy,  but  only  between  those  that  are  less  censura- 
ble and  those  that  are  more  so.  Such  is  the  unenviable  position 
of  the  statesman ;  and  it  will  thus  continue,  until  public  life  is 
so  transformed,  that  fair  and  pure  measures  will  suffice  for  its 
maintenance;  in  other  words,  until  the  visible  revelation  of  the 
kingdom  of  God  here  below,  which  Christ  proclaimed,  which 
he  foresaw,  and  for  which  he  himself  scattered  the  seed  in  the 
earth 

This  kingdom  of  God  is  that  of  universal  freedom,  truth  and 
love.  It  is  built  only  npon  a  faith  not  imposed,  upon  a  personal 
conviction.  Hence,  to  promote  it  is  a  very  different  mission, 
oue  that  belongs  to  the  preachers  of  the  Gospel.  They  should 
employ  none  but  the  purest  means,  since  their  aim  is  altogether 
pure  and  holy.  Whether  its  coming  will  be  slow  or  rapid,  is 
not  for  us  here  to  consider.  They  are  to  seek  greatness  not  by 
ruling  and  domineering,  but  by  serving  and  waiting,  like  their 
Piviue  Exemplar.  He  who  labors  in  His  service,  before  whom 
"a  thousand  years  are  as  one  day,"  full  of  unshaken  trusty 
leaves  it  to  Him,  to  fix  the  time  when  His  harvest  shall  be  ripe. 
To-day  the  seed  falls  among  thorns;  to-morrow  it  drops  into  a 
fertile  soil,  and  in  the  end  fruit,  sixty  and  a  hundred-fold,  will 
not  be  wanting.  But  then  a  laborer  in  this  kingdom,  since  it 
often  has  to  do  with  the  wants  and  wishes  of  governments,  or 
the  peculiarities  of  states,  will  be  drawn  by  necessity  to  take  part 
i  i  secular  affairs,  to  exert  a  direct  influence  upon  political  life; 
yet  he  durst  not  swerve  from  those  fundamental  principles, 
which  must  guide  his  course ;  he  cannot  sacrifice  the  higher 
calling  to  the  lower.  That  in  the  bosom  of  the  Reformer,  along 
with  the  peaceful  review  of  all  his  labors  and  sufferings  for 
evangelical  liberty,  such  a  consciousness  may  have  awakened, 
in  the  last  year  of  his  life,  some  regret   in  regard  to  certain 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXCILI.  395 

events  in  his  political  career,  is  quite  probable  from  the  deep 
seriousness  and  melancholy,  which  we  observe  in  him  at  this 
period,  as  well  as  from  the  fervor  with  which  he  cast  him- 
self into  the  arms  of  the  Supreme  Disposer  of  all  human  destinies. 
He  was  not  at  all  angry,  when  reminded  of  the  duty  of  forbear- 
ance and  love,  whenever  he  perceived  that  the  exhortation  came 
from  a  heart  that  wished  him  well.  To  the  end  of  his  life  he 
continued  on  friendly  terms  with  Valentine  Tschudi,  his  suc- 
cessor in  Glarus,  who,  though  cherishing  all  honor  toward  his 
former  beloved  teacher,  did  not  approve  of  his  frequent  rough 
manner  of  proceeding,  and  without  fear  reminded  him  of  the 
patience  and  mildness  required  by  the  Gospel.  At  this  very  time, 
when  Zwingli  was  powerfully  urging  the  use  of  compulsory  meas- 
ures against  the  Five  Cantons,  Tschudi  wrote  to  him:  "There 
is  an  old  proverb,  dearest  teacher,  '  So  many  heads,  so  many 
minds/  If  from  this  source  discord  often  arises  about  trifles, 
need  we  wonder,  should  it  become  yet  more  violent,  where  the 
most  important  matters  are  concerned  ?  In  a  time,  when  the 
most  learned  are  at  their  wits'  end,  I  do  not  believe,  like  many- 
others,  that  we  should  fan  their  passions  into  a  general  blaze 
by  always  accusing  our  enemies,  but  that  the  more  care  should 
be  taken,  lest  we  slide  from  the  common  foundation  of  our 
feith — love.  Here  only  can  we  stand  firm;  all  else  is  waver- 
ing, dependent  on  accidental  circumstances,  as  all  earthly  thino-s 
are.  I  cannot  understand,  how,  though  the  old  building  be  so 
rotten,  we  can  erect  a  new  one,  solely  on  the  foundation  of  the 
letter,  without  love,  without  the  communion  of  saints.  How 
many  congregations  did  there  not  formerly  flourish  in  Asia,  in 
Africa,  in  Greece?  What  became  of  them,  when  their  leaders 
quarrelled,  when  under  the  mask  of  science,  ambition  arose, 
and  like  Icaras,  would  soar  with  waxen  pinions  toward  the  sun? 
Human  science  is  one  thing;  wisdom,  kindled  by  the  breath 
of  God,  another;  and  that  is  love      I  see  this  love  forsiikinc^ 


odo  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLT. 

evGQ  the  most  learned,  and  in  its  stead  appear  indiiference  to- 
ward God;  contempt  of  authority,  a  trampling  upon  law  and 
judgment,  a  life  of  ungovernable  passion.  Exert  j^our  utmost 
strength,  0  honored  teacher,  to  prevent  it  from  vanishing  alto- 
gether. The  mere  knowledge  of  the  Word  cannot  protect  us, 
if  every  one  is  allowed  to  interpret  it  as  he  pleases,  if  the  spirit 
of  concord,  the  Holy  Spirit  does  not  dwell  in  them,  who  use  it. 
The  generosity,  which  breathes  through  your  last  letter,  and 
of  which  in  earlier  days  I  received  so  many  proofs,  deserves 
my  warmest  thanks.  It  may  ea«ily 'happen,  that  I  will  yet  be 
obliged  to  take  refuge  with  one  of  my  friends;  for  some  are 
angry  at  my  slow  progress,  and  others  at  my  slight  disposition, 
to  apologize  for  the  old  order.  But  I  cannot  abstain  from  aid- 
ing the  weak  and  comfortinsj  distressed  consciences.  I  will 
rather  endure  reproach  for  too  much  lenity,  than  render  the 
breach  incurable  by  untimely  violence.  Little  salvation  as  I 
expect  from  ceremonies  and  external  acts,  I  look  for  just  as  little 
in  science  also,  until  the  spirit  of  concord  return  to  our  bosoms, 
and  its  peaceful  culture  be  raade  possible.  Indeed  drag-chains 
even  can  become  indispensable  to  the  wagon,  when  it  rolls  in 
its  rushing  course  down  toward  the  abyss.  God  be  with  us  ! 
May  his  Spirit  lead  us  into  a  secure  haven !  Do  all  that  in 
thee  lies,  to  attain  this  end." 

But  what  could  Zwingli  do  in  the  circumstances  by  which 
he  was  surrounded?  To  hold  back  the  wagon,  or  to  guide  it, 
was  no  longer  in  his  power.  A  higher  Hand  had  already  seized 
the  reins,  to  direct  it  according  to  a  plan,  which,  though  dark 
and  mysterious  to  the  men  of  that  age,  succeeding  generations, 
who  are  able  to  see  all  the  events  in  their  connection,  have 
learned  to  admire  for  its  wisdom.  We  again  draw  near  one 
of  those  periods  in  the  lives  of  nations,  when  everything  must 
be  ventured  for  the  cause  of  truth  and  liberty,  the  rights  of 
conscience  preserved   by  death,   past  errors  atoned   for  by  a 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  897 

glorious  expiation,  and  the   censure  of  posterity  disarmed  by 
tlie  magnitude  of  the  sacrifice. 

The  Reformer  continued  firm  as  a  rock.     About  the  end  of 
August  he  wrote  to  Conrad  Som  of  Ulm,  after  o-ivino-  some 
notice  of  the  appearance  of  the  comet:   ''I  stand  unshaken 
prepared  for  everything,  seeking  my  help  in  God."     He  heard 
without  alarm,  how  people  in  one  phice  were  terrified  by  mon- 
strous births,  and  how  in  another  reports  were  afloat  concernino- 
portentous  signs,  a  shield  and  banner  seen  in  the  sky;    ships 
manned  by  spirit- warriors  crossing  Lake  Luzern ;  and  the  shoot- 
ing of  guDS  by  night,  that  wakened  from  slumber  the  neighbors 
on  the  lleuss.     Ulric  Meier,  vogt  of  Schenkenberg,  wrote  to  him 
a  long  letter,  telling  how  the  inhabitants  of  an  entire  parish,  he 
himself,  the  preachers  and  a  proprietor  of  that  district,  had  seen 
blood  ooze  from  the  earth,  after  a  stormy  night,  more  dreadful 
than  any  he  had  ever  before  witnessed ;  he  gave  him  this  accurate 
information,  so  that  he  might  not  believe,  if  others  should  tell 
him  yet  worse  things;  and  had  written  moreover  to  the  govern- 
ment of  Bern.     Whether  God  had    spoken,  or  whether  it  was 
delusion  or  magic,  may  perhaps  be  discovered  hereafter.     But 
why  should  stories  like  these,  which  undoubtedly  produced  a 
fearful  commotion  in  the  trembling  multitude,  daunt  him,  who 
was  fixed  in  his  faith,  his  action,  his  purjDose — reconciled  even 
to  the  assurance  of  an  early  death?     One  thing  alone  could 
cause  him  pain — the  thought  of  leaving  behind  his  wife  and 
children,  a  growing  family,  destined  perchance  to  feel  the  con- 
sequences of  every  change  of  fortune.     He  desired  for  them  an 
easier  life,  than  he  had  led;  that  they  might  not  sink  before 
their  time   beneath  a  load  of  trouble  and  toil.     ''Spare  your 
young  folks,''  he  wrote  to  Berchtold  Haller  and  Megander  of 
Bern;  "they,  who  are  now  fairer  than  milk,  redder  than  roses, 
should  not  stalk  along  pale,  withered,  bloodless,  with  corpse- 
like faces,  slain  in  their  bloom  by  the  unnatural  severity  of  ex- 


*j08  life  of  zwingli. 

cessive  toil  ?  JMy  shoulders  are  not  granted  to  you  all.  I  trust 
in  God,  such  times  will  not  last  forever.  Spare  yourselves  also. 
The  future  needs  you ;  for  what  will  remain,  if  all  the  good 
die?'' 

In  such  a  mood  he  beheld  the  last  effort  of  Zurich.  It  was 
the  9  th  of  September,  1531.  From  all  quarters  came  in  re- 
ports of  warlike  preparations  and  movements  in  the  Five  Can- 
tons. Schwyz  and  Uri  at  last  consented  to  join  the  others  in 
an  attempt  to  carry  off  the  food  denied  them,  by  force  of  arms; 
the  Catholic  landvogt  in  the  free  bailiwicks  had  already  seized 
on  a  wagon  of  salt  at  Bremgarten.  A  troop  of  auxiliaries, 
obtained  by  Luzern  through  the  mediation  of  the  Nuncio  and 
paid  by  the  Pope,  was  known  to  be  on  the  march  from  Italy. 
In  a  long  manifesto,  addressed  to  the  Confederates,  and  espe- 
cially her  own  subjects  in  city  and  country,  the  government 
enumerated  her  just  grievances  against  the  Five  Cantons,  re- 
plied, as  far  as  she  was  able,  to  their  complaints  against  Zurich, 
offered  once  more  to  accept  the  Landfricdc,  in  the  sense  in 
which  she  understood  and  could  only  interpret  it,  and  to  raise 
the  prohibition,  as  soon  as  the  insolent  calumniators  were  pun- 
ished, absolved  herself,  if  this  were  not  done,  from  all  the  con- 
sequences, and  concluded  with  these  words:  "We  live  in  the 
firm  and  assured  hope,  that  you,  our  dear  subjects,  will  be 
equally  concerned  with  us  about  the  above-named  scandal, 
abuse,  contempt  and  despising  of  our  faith  and  of  the  Divine 
Word,  and  other  injuries  done  us,  contrary  to  the  federal  com- 
pact and  the  Landfricde,  and  that  you  will  honestly  and  fairly 
fulfill,  as  a  loyal  people,  the  offers  and  promises  you  have  made 
us;  moreover,  do  not  doubt  that  we,  your  lords  and  rulers,  will 
act  toward  you  in  all  honor,  friendship,  fidelity,  love  and  kind- 
ness, and  not  forsake  you  in  the  hour  of  need;  because  we  are 
not  seeking  our  own  advantage,  but  the  honor  of  God,  and  after 
that,  of  the  Common  Confederacy,  of  our  city  and  canton,  and 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  »     899 

then  the  honor,  fame,  profit  and  welfare  of  you  all."  Rudolf 
Lavater,  landoogt  of  Kyburg,  was  appointed  commander-iu- 
cliief,  called  into  the  city  and  full  authority  given  to  him,  the 
banneret  Schweizer  and  Tcenig,  captain  of  the  artillery,  to 
admit,  if  they  saw  lit,  others  into  their  council,  to  call  out  the 
soldiery,  and  to  march  to  battle,  as  soon  as  they  found  it  nec- 
essary; in  short,  to  do  everything  needful  ''to  protect  and  save 
the  interests  and  honor  of  the  canton/'  A.  commission  to  this 
eflect  was  handed  over  to  Lavater.  But  with  that  effort  all 
power  seemed  to  be  exhausted.  As  if  with  the  commission  all 
responsibility  had  been  shifted  from  their  shoulders  to  those 
of  others,  neither  firmness,  promptitude,  nor  unanimity  were  to 
be  found  in  the  Councils.  Indeed  there  existed  traces  of  actual 
treason.  Scarcely  did  an  order  go  forth  from  one  side  to  the 
rural  districts,  beibre  it  was  followed  by  a  countermand  from 
the  other.  Troops,  who  were  summoned,  received  on  the  way 
notice  to  return  home.  Unwilling  to  see  himself  frustrated  at 
every  point,  Lavater  retired,  for  a  while,  to  Kyburg.  The  in- 
habitants of  the  frontiers  toward  Zug  and  Luzern,  were  partly 
intimidated  and  partly  incensed  by  a  flood  of  disparaging  re- 
ports, which  were  sent  thither.  Petitions  from  Bern,  not  to 
be  too  rash,  not  to  mahe  the  first  attarck,  were  continually  ar- 
riving. These  were  supported  by  a  majority  of  the  members 
of  both  Councils,  who,  paralyzed  by  fear,  by  a  criminal  regard 
to  their  own  private  interests,  or  buoyed  up  by  a  haughty  self- 
confidence,  affected  to  consider  the  step  taken  by  the  adverse 
party  as  a  mere  show,  or  as  greatly  exaggerated  by  public  ru- 
mor. A  hearing  was  granted  to  the  ever-busy  advocates  of 
peace,  whose  numbers  were  now  swelled  by  a  delegation  from 
Strassburg;  and  through  their  entreaties  and  promises,  every 
decisive  measure  was  postponed.  Meanwhile,  the  courage  of 
the  Five  Cantons  so  increased,  in  view  of  the  helplessness  of 
their  opponents,  that  early  in  October,  their  deputies  assembled 


400     •  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI 

in  Bmnuen,  in  order  to  take  final  action.  Here  the  treaties 
were  first  read,  and  tlien  all  were  questioned,  upon  oath,  by  tlie 
bailiff  Hichmutli  of  Schwjz,  whether  they  had  been  so  violated 
by  Zurich  and  Bern,  that  war  could  be  lawfully  declared  against 
them.  It  was  decided  unanimously  in  the  affirmative,  and  on 
the  9th  of  October,  after  a  long  explanation  of  all  the  motives 
that  prompted  them  to  this  course,  the  campaign  was  begun. 

On  the  same  day,  600  Luzerners  and  50  volunteers  from 
each  of  the  other  cantons  reached  Hochdorf,  and  from  thence, 
strengthened  by  400  men  from  the  upper  free  bailiwicks,  ad- 
vanced to  Hitzkirch.  From  the  latter  place,  the  commander 
You  Mueliuen  fell  back  upon  Bremgarten,  and  sent  call  after 
call  to  Zurich  for  aid.  On  the  10th,  the  chief  force  of  the 
Five  Cantons,  each  division  under  its  own  laiKhimman  and 
scJudfhciss,  advanced  to  Zug,  where  they  waited  for  the  approach 
of  the  Zurichers.  They  brought  with  them  a  challenge  against 
Zurich,  to  the  following  effect : 

"We,  the  captains,  bannerets  and  commons-at-war  of  the 
Five  old  Christian  Cantons  make  known  to  the  Councils  and 
commons  of  Zurich,  by  this  our  letter :  For  a  long  time  now,  as 
regards  our  fair  and  honorable  rights  and  desires,  contrary  to 
sworn  treaties  and  the  Lamlfriedc  concluded  between  us,  con- 
trary to  Christian  discipline  and  unity,  contrary  to  Confederate 
loyalty,  love  and  friendship,  and  contrary  to  all  natural  law  and 
equity,  have  we  been  violently  deprived  and  dispossessed  of  our 
just  rights  in  the  government  of  St.  Grail  and  the  bailiwick  in 
the  Rlieinthal,  not  by  you  and  your  adherents  only,  but  by  our 
own  people  also,  whom  in  defiance  of  God,  honor  and  law,  you 
have  seduced  from  their  allegiance.  Not  satisfied  with  the  at- 
tempt to  create  disunion  amongst  us  by  cunning  and  intrigue, 
to  drive  us  from  our  old,  true  Christian  fiiith,  you  pretend  that 
we  are  not  willing  to  hear  the  Word  of  God,  nor  to  suffer  the 
Old  and  New  Testaments  to  be  read,  and  therefore  call  us  un- 


LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI.  401 

godly,  malicious  sellers-of-flesh  and  perfidious  reprobates;  and 
because  we  do  not  attach  ourselves  to  your  newly  invented  re- 
ligion, you  refuse  to  sell  us  provisions,  and  undertake  to  crush 
us  by  hunger,  and  not  us  alone,  but  to  destroy  the  very  child 
in  its  mother's  womb.     You  grudge  us  this,  though  God  gives 
it,  and  it  has  not  grown  up  as  yours,  nor  upon  your  soil;  for 
what  good,  honest  people  would  gladly  send  us,  you  will  not 
sufiFer  to  pass  through  your  territories,  which  is  an  open  and 
wanton  violation  of  the  federal  compact  and  the  Landfriede. 
And  though  we  have  made  every  reasonable  oiFer  for  the  sake 
of  peace,  quiet,  and  the  perpetuation  of  our  common  Confed- 
eracy, and  for  this  end  appealed  for  aid  to  the  other  cantons, 
yet  neither  have  you  acknowledged  our  rights,  nor  has  any  one 
shown  a  disposition  to  help  us,  and  for  a  long  time  now  we  have 
been  obliged  to  suffer  and  endure  this  oppression  and  injustice; 
and  since  there  appears  to  be  no  end  to  overbearing  and  vio- 
lence, and  we  can  look  for  neither  right  nor  fairness,  we  are 
driven  to  complain  to  God's  worthy  Mother,  to  all  the  heavenly 
host,  and  to  all  good  men,  who  love  justice  and  equity.     If  we 
and  ours  were  to  suffer  such  scandal,  shame,  contempt,  blasphe- 
my and  arrogance  any  longer,  we  would  stand  recreant  before 
God  and  the  world.     Wherefore,  for  the  honor  of  religion  and 
truth  and  the  glory  of  God's  Holy  Name,  we  are  forced,  by  the 
aid  of  Heaven,  to  put  down  such  crime  and  tyranny,  compelled 
to  take  vengeance;  and  so  much  and  so  far  as  God  gives  us 
power,  grace  and  strength,  will  we  chastise  you  by  the  edge  of 
the  sword  and  no  longer  abide  such  haughty  oppression  and 
constraint;  and   we  hereby  boldly  proclaim,  that,  against  you 
and  your  abettors,  we  will  uphold  our  own   honor  and  that  of 
our  allies.^' 

This  decided  movement  on  the  part  of  the  Five  Cantons 
produced  the  greatest  confusion  in  Zurich.  The  commander 
elect,  the  head  of  the  board  of  war,  was  absent;  the  Councils 

3-i* 


402  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

were  wavering  and  split  into  factions,  the  majority  of  the  peo- 
ple without  confidence  or  sympathy;  and  Zwingli,  although 
calm,  to  the  last  moment  true  to  the  call  of  duty,  full  of  un- 
shaken faith  in  the  justice  of  his  cause,  and  certain  that  a 
better  future  would  dawn  upon  his  fatherland,  had  yet  no  hope 
for  the  present;  none  for  a  speedy  victory;  none  for  himself. 
Four  days  before  his  death,  he  said  in  the  pulpit :  "  Our  only 
true  possession  is  the  friendship  of  God,  from  whom,  neither 
death  nor  any  earthly  power  can  sunder  us;"  and  then  again: 
^'  They  achieve  the  most  glorious  victory,  who  arc  actors  and 
not  spectators  merely.  Hence,  courage  amid  the  perplexities 
and  dangers  through  which  the  holy  cause  of  the  Gospel  must 
be  upheld !  May  others  enjoy  the  fruit  of  our  labors!  We 
will  find  rest  in  Heaven." 

In  such  a  frame  of  mind,  he  was  not  surprised  by  the  reports 
of  his  friend  Bullinger,  abbot  of  Cappel,  whom  Lavater  had 
sent  to  the  Five  Cantons  as  a  trusty  spy.  These  were  of  the 
same  tenor  and  spoke  of  the  fixed  determination  of  the  enemy, 
the  first  step  already  taken,  and  the  distress  and  prayers  for  help 
on  the  frontiers.  At  his  request,  or  by  order,  of  the  govern- 
ment, Lavater  returned  to  Zurich  on  the  9th  of  October;  but 
just  as  the  character  of  the  news  varied,  an  immediate  dispatch 
of  troops  was  talked  of  in  the  Council,  or  its  order  already  com- 
municated, recalled.  Nothing  was  done  that  day,  but  to  send 
several  members  to  Bremgarten  and  Cappel,  to  reconnoiter. 
A  restless  night  was  passed ;  new  warnings  had  arrived.  On 
the  morning  of  the  10th,  the  pastor  of  Rifi"erschweil  and  the 
landlord  of  the  Albis  made  their  appearance;  the  one  an  eye- 
witness of  the  flight  of  the  people  before  the  invading  Catholics, 
the  other,  a  messenger  from  the  deputies  of  the  government, 
with  pressing  entreaties  to  hasten  the  departure  of  the  army. 
The  Small  and  Great  Councils  were  called  together,  but  the 
meeting  was  by  no  means  full.    Perplexity,  hesitation,  and  even 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  403 

secret  joy  at  the  confused  state  of  aOliirs  kept  a  portion  of  the 
members  at  home.  Lavater  had  also  summoned  to  the  senate- 
house  Zwingli^  the  banneret  Schweizer,  William  Toenig  and 
Hans  Dajniker,  to  whom  the  conduct  of  the  baggage  train  was 
committed.  They  all  agreed^  that  the  alarm  should  be  sounded 
immediately,  and  first  in  the  more  remote  districts,  so  that  their 
inhabitants  might  assemble  under  the  banner  simultaneously 
with  those  who  dwelt  nearer.  They  notified  the  councillors 
of  their  resolution,  but  again  found  opposition  among  them. 
In  vain  did  Lavater  appeal  to  his  commission.  The  dispatch 
of  some  100  men,  under  George  Goeldli,  was  only  effected 
about  noon,  and  that  with  the  injunction,  to  venture  on  nothing 
decisive,  but  to  secure  a  good  position.  The  artillery,  which 
ought  to  have  gone  with  them,  was  not  fully  underweigh  until 
evening.  At  last,  as  night  set  in,  about  seven  o'clock,  permis- 
sion was  given  to  sound  the  alarm,  which  was  now  done  very 
irregularly  throughout  the  canton,  varying  in  proportion  as 
they,  who  were  appointed  to  the  service,  were  well-disposed,  or 
had,  perchance,  here  and  there,  received  secret  counter-orders. 
About  midnight  Peter  Fuessli  reached  the  summit  of  the  Albis 
with  the  artillery,  for  the  draught  of  which  he  had  found  it 
difficult  to  procure  teams.  According  to  his  narration,  the 
alarm  was  sounded  in  several  ^'■Idlcliliocrenen^^  (parishes);  com- 
motion reigned  in  nature.  Tschudi  tells  us  of  an  earthquake 
on  that  night,  "  which  mightily  shook  the  canton,  even  moun- 
tain and  valley.''  On  the  morning  of  the  12th,  about  six 
o'clock,  the  banner  was  hung  out  of  the  senate-house.  But 
the  commander-in-chief  had  to  wait  some  time  before  any  sol- 
diers collected  around  it.  There  was  nothing  like  regular 
division  into  companies  or  mustering  beforehand.  Whoever 
had  courage  to  come  as  a  volunteer,  placed  himself  in  the  ranks. 
They  were  scarce  700  men,  all  told,  councillors,  clergy,  and 
gru.y  haired  fathers  in  part,  along  with  fiery  youths;    and    so 


404  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

they  hun-ied  off,  for  word  was  brought,  that  Gocklli  had  already 
engaged  the  enemy  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain. 

Zwingli  also,  responding  to  the  summons  of  the  Council,  of 
hi?  own  accord  joined  the  departing  troops.  He  had  taken 
leave  of  his  wife  and  children  and  of  his  friends  in  such  a  way, 
that,  as  Bullinger  remarks,  "  they  perceived  he  expected  never 
to  return  home  again/'  Even  his  horse  seemed  to  have  a  fore- 
boding of  evil.  He  shied,  as  Werner  Steiner  relates,  and  as 
many  saw  ^th  terror,  backwards.  Too  sagacious  not  to  observe 
that  he  must  encounter  contradictory  measures,  the  lukewarm- 
ness  of  allies,  and  secret  treachery,  which  he  more  than 
once  predicted ;  too  manly  to  retire  now  in  the  hour  of  need ; 
too  full  of  confidence  in  God,  not  to  believe  that  He  would 
protect  His  own  Gospel,  though  it  should  for  the  moment  call 
for  its  martyrs,  he  acknowledged  the  duty  of  abiding  by  his 
Zurichers,  whose  temporal  and  eternal  welfare  he  desired  from 
the  bottom  of  his  heart,  in  the  defence  of  their  native  soil,  even 
unto  death;  of  proving  by  his  own  blood,  that  it  was  no  mere 
selfish  ambition  or  love  of  revolution,  which  had  prompted  him 
to  speak  and  act,  as  in  their  blindness,  his  raging  enemies  had 
asserted.  Not  in  sullen  stupefaction,  not  in  a  fit  of  frenzy  or 
of  recklessness  did  he  march  forth,  but  with  the  earnestness  of 
a  man,  who  knows  what  may  happen,  and,  not  girding  him 
self  with  his  own  hands,  relies  on  the  arm  of  Him,  who  is  best 
acquainted  with  the  human  heart,  and  pardons  the  multitude 
of  our  errors,  if  only  redeemed  by  faith,  love,  and  a  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice.  A  Winterthurer,  Hans  Maaler,  who  rode  one 
rank  behind  him,  narrates  that  he  heard  him  pray  for  himself 
and  especially  for  the  church  of  Christ  with  great  fervency. 

On  the  summit  of  the  mountain  the  wearied  soldiers  were 
obliged  to  rest  for  a  while.  From  the  valley  below,  the  thunder 
of  cannon  was  distinctly  heard  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cappel. 
But  how  few  in  numbers,  how  motley  was  the  host  that  here 


LIFE   OF   ZWIXGLT.  405 

assembled  once  more  around  tlie  banner!     A  part,  consisting 
of  the  heavy-armed  and  the  aged,  were  still  climbing  upward, 
and  the  artillery,  again  delayed  for  want  of  horses,  lingered  far 
behind.     There  was  little  to  encourage  a  prudent  general  to 
venture  rashly,  with  such  fragments  of  an  army,  from  ground, 
which  he  could  hold  even  with  these,  down  into  the  open  field; 
at  least,  whilst  he  could  count  with  certainty  on  a  considerable 
increase  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  and  could  employ  the  in- 
teiTal  in  the  most  needful  instruction  and  arrangement  of  his 
troops.     There  was  reason  also  to  hope,  from  the  tenor  of  the 
commands,  which  he  had  received,  that  Goeldli,  as  soon  as  he 
could  no  longer  defend  himself  at  a  distance  with  his  cannon, 
would  rather  Ml  back  upon  the  mountain.     It  was^  therefore, 
military  experience,  and   not  cowardice,  which    led    William 
Toenig  to  advise  a  halt,  till  the  arrival  of  those  in  the  rear. 
But  Zwingli,  whose  thoughts  dwelt  only  upon  his  last  duty, 
and  the  distress  of  his  neighbors,  attacked  by  an  invading  force 
and  anxiously  waiting  for  help,  immediately  replied:   ^'1  will 
go  down  to  the  good  people  in  God's  name;  to  die  with  them, 
or  to    aid    in    their    deliverance.^^     Lavater,    already  perhaps 
despairing  of  success,  but  resolved  to  maintain  his  reputation 
for  personal  courage,  likewise  spoke  in  fovor  of  haste,  whilst 
the  gray-haired  banneret,  Toenig,  withdrew  his  proposal  to  halt. 
"I  am  as  stout  as  you,"  said  he,  ^' and  you  will  find  it  so." 
The  event  soon  proved  his  saying  true. 

It  was  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  banner 
reached  Cappel.  Only  a  few  of  the  most  active  entered  the 
battle-field  with  it.  The  rest  of  the  soldiers  followed  in  great 
disorder.  For  some  time,  Gocldli  and  his  men,  strengthened 
by  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country,  had  sustained, 
with  trifling  loss,  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  answered 
it  with  their  own.  Just  as  Lavater,  Zwingli  and  the  other 
leaders  came  up,  a  pause  ensued,  in  consequence  of  a  council 


406  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

of  war  in  the  hostile  camp,  which  resulted  in  a  change  of  po- 
sition.    The  Zui'ichers  also  met  to  deliberate.     The  challenge 
of  the  Five  Cantons  was  produced  by  Goeldli  and  handed  over 
to  Zwingii.     It  was  now  evening.     A  renewal  of  the  battle 
was  no  longer  anticipated.     Peter  Fuessli   proposed  that  the 
cannon  on  hand  should  be  removed  to  a  hill,  lying  somewhat  in 
the  rear,  and  a  secure  position  taken  behind  it.     The  others, 
though  differing  in  opinion,  went  along  with  him  to  look  at  the 
spot;  but  just  at  this  most  unfavorable  moment,  when  deprived 
of  their  best  leaders,  the  Zurichers  saw  themselves  threatened 
by  the  enemy,   who  were   close  upon  them.     For  whilst  the 
Catholic  captains  were  discussing  their  afhiirs  to  little  purpose, 
and  their  main  forces  lay  in  the  back-ground,  the  vogt  Jouch 
of  Uri  had  slipped  unperceived  with  a  number  of  marksmen 
into  a  little  grove,  which  commanded  the  flank  of  the  Zurichan 
army.     Volunteers  from  the  Five  Cantons,  Unterwalden  espe- 
cially, advanced  in  front.     Against  these,  all  of  the  Zurichers, 
who  were  most  eager  for  the  fray  rushed,  without  waiting  for 
orders,  and  never  dreaming  of  an  ambuscade.     Then  an  irregu- 
lar conflict  arose.     Lavater,  Zwingii  and  the  greater  part  of 
their  companions  returned  to  take  their  place  in  the  ranks,  as 
soon  as  they  heard  of  it.     x\t  this  very  moment,  the  rest  of 
the  Catholics  pressed  forward,  and  all  at  once  Jouch  and  his 
marksmen  opened  fire.     The  peril  of  the  Zurichers  was  mani- 
fest.    "How  is  it,  Master  Ulric,"  said  Leonhard  Burkhard,  a 
member  of  the  baker's  guild,  who  were   not  friendly  to  the 
Reformer,  ''are  the  turnips  salted?     Who  shall  eat  them?" 
''I,"  said   he,  ''and  many  an   honest  man  here  with   me,  in 
God's  hand,  whose  we  are  living  and  dead."     "And  I  along 
with  you,  though  it  cost  me  my  life,"  added  the  former.     He 
too  fell  a  victim.     Lavater,  seizing  a  lance,  marched   to  the 
thickest  of  the  fight.     "Ptemember"  cried  he,  "the  honor  of 
God  and  Zurich;  quit  yourselves  like  men."     The  banneret 


LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI.  407 

Scliweizer  did  the  same,  and  Zwingli,  requested  by  Bernhart 
Spruengleir  to  encourage  the  soldiers,  spoke  with  a  loud  voice  : 
"Fear  not;  if  we  suffer,  it  is  for  God's  sake.  Call  on  Him. 
He  will  strengthen  us  and  ours."  In  fact  he  inspired  in  the 
bosoms  of  the  noblest  among  them  courage  to  remain  true  to 
their  convictions  unto  death,  and  leave  behind  for  future  gen- 
erations an  example  of  duty  fulfilled  and  honor  saved. "^  After 
a  short  and  furious  struggle,  the  half  of  the  Zurich ers  present 
lay  stretched  upon  the  field  of  battle ;  the  foui-th  part  of  whom 
either  expired  immediatel}^,  or  afterward  died  of  their  wounds. 
Zwingli  whilst  in  the  act  of  speaking  to  a  soldier  falling  at  his 
side,  was  struck  with  such  violence  by  a  stone  (as  appeared 
from  the  deep  dinge  in  his  helmet,  which  was  brought  to  Lu- 
zern  as  a  tropy  of  war)  that  he  also  sunk  down.  In  this  pros- 
trate condition  he  was  stabbed  a  number  of  times  in  his  legs. 
"The  body  they  can  kill;  the  soul  not."  These  are  said  to 
have  been  his  last  words.  Around  him  lay  eighteen  others 
of  the  most  distinguished  of  the  clergy — among  them,  Dicbold 
von  G-eroldseck,  who  had  formerly  called  him  to  Einsiedeln, 
Wolfgang  Joner,  abbot  at  Cappel,  and  the  commander  Conrad 
Schmid  in  the  midst  of  39  men  of  Kuessnacht.  Seven 
members  of  the  Small  and  nineteen  of  the  Great  Council  had 
fallen.  Besides  these,  there  were  sixty-five  burghers  of  the 
capital,  eleven  of  Wintcrthur,  and  410  men  of  the  canton. 
The  banner,  defended  by  Schweizer  till  he  fell,  was  saved  by 

^  The  author  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  give  here  all  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  battle.  A  fuller  description  of  it  may  be  found  in 
his  larger  work:  "  Geschichte  der  Eidr/enossen  wcehrend  der  Zeitcn  der 
Kirchentrmniing."  II.  373,  ff.  Gelzer  has  a  still  more  circumstantial 
accoxint  in  a  special  work,  "  Die  Schlacht  bet  Cappel."  Zurich,  t'chult- 
heiss.  1831.  But  the  most  accurate,  including  the  minutest  details, 
even  to  the  names  of  all  who  were  killed,  and  everything  that  coald 
bs  collected  from  contemporaneous  reports,  is  contained  in  Bulliuger's 
Chroriicles,  which  were  published  a  few  years  ago. 


408  LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI. 

the  heroic  exertions  of  Hans  Kambli,  Adam  Ila)f  and  Uh-ic 
Denzler.     By  nightfall  the  Catholics  had  achieved  a  decided 
victory.     They  refrained  from  pursuit,  and,  collecting  on  the 
meadows  near  the   houses,  knelt  down  to  offer  up  a  prayer  of 
thanksgiving.     Many  of  them  then  sallied  forth,  torch  in  hand, 
to  visit  the  scene  of  carnage,  but  with  different  ends  in  view; 
some  to  secure  the  clothing  and   the    weapons  of  the  slain; 
others,  inspired  by  revenge  or  fanaticism,  to  deal  a  finishing 
stroke  on  those  of   the  wounded,  against  whom    they   bore  a 
grudge;  but  many  also,  prompted  by  the  nobler  motive  of  com- 
forting and  bringing  help  where  it  was  yet  possible.     Salat  of 
Luzern  thus  gloried  in  his  fanaticism :  "  Some,  when  asked,  as 
they  lay  struggling  in  the  agonies  of  death,  whether  they  wished 
to  confess  and  receive  the  holy  sacraments,  answered.  Yes  !  and 
were  thus  preserved,  according  to  Christian  usage,  and  died  as 
good  Christians.     Others,  when  so  asked,  made  the  sign  of  No ! 
These  were  then  left  to  die  like  infidel  dogs,  or  finished,  per- 
chance, by  a  stab  or  blow,  so  that  tlicy  might  the  sooner  he  led 
off  to  the  Devil,  as  the//  icere  fighting  on  all  fours."     Bullinger 
praises  the  humanity  of  the  enemy  in   the  following  words  ; 
^'On  the  contrary,  there  were  not  a  few  among  the  Five  Cantons, 
who  deeply  deploring  this  sad  business  as  a  great  misfortune, 
treated  the  captive  Zurichers  in  a  friendly  manner,  caused  their 
wounds  to  be  bound  up,  and  placed  them  beside  their  camp- 
fires;  for  the   night  was  cold,  and  a  heavy  frost  lay  upon  the 
ground.     They   regretted  that  the  prohibition  of  the  export 
of  provisions  (without  which  the  common  people    could    not 
have  been  induced  to  take  up  arms)  had  been   laid,  and  that 
such  great  injury  had  resulted   from  it,  and  honest  Confeder- 
ates set  in  hostile  array  against  each  other.  A  party  of  those  who 
were  searching  "through  the  field  of  battle,  came  upon  Zwingli. 
He  lay  with  his  face  to  the  earth.     They  turned  him  around  and 
and  asked  him,  like  the  others,  to  confess.  He  repeatedlv  shook  his 


LIFE   or  ZWINGLI.  409 

head,  by  way  of  denial.  ^'Dic  then,  stiff-necked  heretic  !''  cried 
Captain  Vokinger  of  Unterwalden,  and  gave  him  his  death-blow. 
The  news  that  his  body  was  found,  soon  spread  among  the 
Catholics.  Numbers  went  out  to  look  at  it — among  them, 
Bartholomew  Stocker  of  Zug,  who  had  known  and  esteemed 
the  Reformer  in  his  lifetime.  He  often  afterward  said,  that 
^'in  the  form  and  color  of  his  face  he  did  not  appear  to  be 
dead,  but  alive,  and,  to  his  great  surprise,  looked  just  as  he 
did  when  he  preached.  Hans  Schoenbrunner,  formerly,  the 
head  of  the  convent  at  Cappel,  could  not  refrain  from  tears. 
''Whatever  thy  faith  was,''  said  ho,  ''I  know  that  thou  wert 
an  honest  Confederate.  Grod  be  merciful  to  thy  soul  V  But 
rage  prevailed  among  the  majority,  who  demanded  that  the 
body  should  be  divided  into  hve  pieces,  and  one  sent  to  each 
of  the  Five  Cantons;  others  wished  it  to  be  burnt.  Schult- 
heiss  Colder  and  the  amman  Thoss  exhorted  them  to  leave  the 
dead  rest,  and  judgment  to  God.  They  were  overpowered  by 
loud  cries,  and  withdrew.  At  the  tap  of  the  drum  an  inquisi- 
tion was  proclaimed,  sentence  passed  and  the  corpse  quartered 
by  the-  executioner  of  Luzern,  burned,  and  its  ashes  mixed 
with  those  of  a  dead  hog.  What  a  religion,  that  could  fancy 
such  frenzy  would  be  pleasing  to  God  ! 

Terrible  beyond  description  was  the  effect  produced  by  the 
fearful  reports,  which  now  reached  Zurich,  blow  after  blow. 
Some,  like  Anna  Reinhart,  who  received  in  succession  the  sad 
tidings  of  tlie  death  of  a  husband,  a  son,  a  son-in  law,  a  brother, 
and  a  brother-in-law,  submitted  with  Christian  resignation. — 
Others  acknowledged  in  the  calamity  a  judgment  upon  their 
own  sins,  on  account  of  the  too  little  respect  paid  to  the  rights 
of  their  Confederates,  the  violation  of  treaties  and  the  forcible 
introduction  of  reforms,  which  can  only  rest  upon  a  sure  basis, 
when  the  result  of  conscientious  persuasion.  These  views  were 
uttered  in  louder  or  softer  tones.     The  most  vulgar,  cowardly 


410  LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI. 

and  passionate  gave  vent  to  their  secret  hatred  against  certain 
individuals.  But  then  also,  not  a  few  were  found,  who,  instead 
of  giving  way  to  despondency,  encouraged  their  neighbors,  called 
for  redoubled  exertions  and  cast  themselves  into  the  breach. 
The  government  was  roused.  Directly  after  the  receipt  of  the 
first  news,  then  about  midnight,  and  again  in  the  morning,  Bern 
was  written  to  for  speedy  aid  and  the  collective  cities  of  the 
Chistian  Biiergerrccht  for  an  auxiliary  force.  As  Lavater  did 
not  appear  for  a  time,  other  leaders  were  sent  to  the  heights 
of  the  Albis,  in  order  to  collect  the  fugitives  and  place  them 
in  the  ranks  of  the  new  troops,  who  were  coming  up.  It  would 
have  been  yet  possible  to  recover  everything  and  wipe  out  the 
disgrace  of  defeat,  by  resolution  and  concord.  Of  the  former 
there  was  enough;  of  the  latter  not.  Indeed,  the  army  of 
Bern,  which  approached,  was  strong  in  numbers.  It  had  set 
out  on  the  same  day  in  which  the  battle  of  Cappel  was  fought, 
but  under  a  leader,  the  schultheiss  Biessbach,  who,  swayed  by 
his  personal  dislike  to  the  Beformation,  wavered  in  his  purpose 
and  did  not  push  forward  with  zeal  and  activity. 

The  Zurichers,  with  ranks  swollen  by  the  arrival  of  several 
thousand  solders,  were  encouraged  by  Lavater,  again  in  their 
midst,  and  the  governor-general  Frei,  next  him  in  command,  to 
descend  from  the  Albis  and  hazard  another  battle.  They 
earnestly  begged  the  Bernese  to  march  up  rapidly  through  the 
free  bailiwicks  and  lend  them  support.  The  Five  Cantons, 
threatened  thus  in  front  and  rear,  would  be  compelled  either 
to  fight,  or  to  retreat.  Biessbach  refused.  Even  when  Zurich, 
at  his  request,  withdrew  her  troops  from  the  Albis,  forsook  her 
own  canton  and  joined  the  Bernese  at  Bremgarten,  he  still 
hesitated.  The  united  forces,  now  exceeding  in  number  those 
ot  the  Catholics,  occupied  five  days  in  advancing  the  distance 
ot  a  few  miles,  where  they  again  enctimped.  Frei  could  no 
longer  endure  such  treasonable  inaction.     On  his  own  respon^ 


LIFE    OP   ZWTNGLI.  411 

sibilitj,  aided  by  the  men  of  Basel,  Schaffhausen,  and  St.  Gall, 
he  pressed  on  by  night  to  the  Gubel.  The  Bernese  slept  with- 
out concern.  But  the  Gospel  of  Christ  is  not  to  be  upheld  by 
swords  and  lances.  A  second  time  Zurich  was  beaten,  and 
her  brave  captain  fell  among  the  slain. 

And  yet  the  Catholics  did  not  gain  all  they  desired.  Their 
faith,  as  well  as  their  former  just  position  in  the  Confederacy, 
were  now  secured,  and  the  unnatural  prohibition  against  the 
export  of  provisions  done  away;  but  the  Reformation  still  sur- 
vived, and  their  victories  did  not  give  them  power  sufficient  to 
crush  again  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  where  it  had  taken  root, 
or  to  limit  Zurich  in  hor  territorial  rights.  This,  however, 
they  attempted  to  do,  and  directly  after  the  defeat  at  Cappel 
invited  all  the  parishes  on  the  further  side  of  the  Albis,  together 
with  the  entire  population  on  the  left  shore  of  the  lake,  to  aban- 
don Zurich,  swear  allegiance  to  them  and  give  hostages  for 
their  fidelity  in  the  future  ;  in  return  for  which,  they  promised 
to  guarantee  their  original  liberties  and  "  receive  and  treat  them, 
as  faithful,  loving  subjects  should  be  by  a  mild  and  paternal 
government."  In  case  of  refusal,  they  were  to  be  dealt  with 
in  ^^a  hostile  and  warlike  manner,"  without  mercy.  The  oiFer 
was  unanimously  rejected,  and  information  sent  to  the  Council 
of  Zurich,  which  was  repeatedly  assured,  that  they  were 
resolved  to  abide  by  the  Gospel  till  death.  The  latter  govern- 
ment also  remained  unshaken,  even  by  the  new  disaster  at 
the  Gubel ;  indeed,  now  for  the  first  time,  exhibited  a  degree 
of  courage  and  activity,  that  was  not  looked  for.  And  although 
the  Duke  of  Wuertemburg  had  been  informed  that  ^'the  trade 
of  our  city  is  nearly  ruined,"  orders  were  sent,  only  four  days  after 
the  defeat  at  Cappel,  to  the  Zurichan  allies,  who  were  still 
engaged  in  the  siege  of  the  castle  Musso,  on  the  borders  of 
Graubuenden  :  ^^  Persevere,  do  not  break  up,  nor  let  our  affairs 
trouble   you,  but  prosecute  the  war  boldly  and  earnestly,  and 


412  LIFE    OF   ZWINGLI. 

give  tlie  enemy  no  rest  till  lie  surrenders."  This  reply  was 
also  laiide,  when  the  Council  of  Bern,  in  contrast  with  the  slug- 
gish leaders  of  her  army,  referred  the  mediators,  sent  from 
Solothurn,  Appenzell  and  Neunburg,  to  Zurich  with  the  decla- 
ration that  without  her  consent  their  could  be  no  talk  of 
peace  :  ''It  shall  never  be  forgotten,  but  told  to  our  children 
and  children's  children."  Her  town-clerk  was  authorized,  the 
very  day  after  the  battle  on  the  Gubel,  to  inform  the  soldiers 
on  the  Italian  frontiers  :  "We  are  ready  to  pledge  hide  and  fur 
and  all  that  God  has  given  us,  not  to  abandon  the  field,  till  the 
religious  rights  of  the  bailiwicks  are  secured."  Word  was 
sent  to  the  camp  at  Baar:  ''We  wish  to  know  what  happened 
at  the  defeat  on  the  mountain,  who  was  to  blame  and  who  was 
innocent.  You  should  remember  every  day  the  disgrace  of 
our  city  of  Zurich  and  seek  means  to  recover  our  lost  honor." 
Continually  and  repeatedly  were  the  Bernese  captains  and  the 
government  exhorted  to  prosecute  the  war  with  greater  vigor ; 
and  when  the  latter,  in  order  to  justify  her  irresolution,  referred 
to  the  armed  preparations  on  the  Rhine  and  on  her  western 
borders,  against  which  she  was  obliged  to  guard,  when  she  commu- 
nicated the  fact  that  the  Archduke  Ferdinand  had,  immedi- 
ately after  receiving  the  news  of  the  disaster  at  Cappel,  sat 
more  than  half  a  day  in  council  and,  leaving  the  Imperial  Diet, 
ridden  off  to  Inspruck,  the  indignant  reply  was  made. 
"We  can  get  nothing  more  out  of  it  than  this,  that  all 
our  friends  are  on  the  other  side  of  the  Rhine,  and  your 
reports  and  ours  in  no  wise  agree;  and  since  these  things  are 
not  half  so  dreadful  as  represented  to  you,  we  beg  you  not  to  be 
frightened  at  such  bug-bears,  but  come  manfully  to  our  aid." 
The  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  who  had  offered  money  and  a  thou- 
sand men,  and  the  Duke  of  Wuertemberg,  who  had  placed  at 
their  disposal  all  his  heavy  guns  at  Hohentwiel,  were  warmly 
thanked;  but  as  there  was  less  lack  of  men  than  of  concord  in 


LIFE   OF    ZAVINGLI.  413 

the  camp,  it  was  resolved  to  decline  this  foreign  assistance, 
which  could  scarcely  have  been  used. 

In  the  camp  itself  undoubtedly  lay  the  chief  causes  of  the 
crippled  condition  of  affairs,  the  confusion  and  the  unfortunate 
results.  Not  only  did  a  continual  strife  prevail  between  the 
Bernese  and  Zurichan  commanders,  but  the  latter  stood  isolated 
among  his  own  people.  He  himself  felt  that  he  had  lost  the 
confidence  of  his  troops,  and  although  he  could  point  to  unde- 
niable proofs  of  his  bravery  in  Italy,  and  of  his  undaunted  spirit 
and  presence  of  mind  in  the  popular  rebellion  at  Toess,  and  al- 
though he  was  among  the  last  to  leave  the  battle-field  of 
Cappel,  and  that  only  when  all  resistance  had  become  impossi- 
ble, yet  an  inner  voice  perhaps  whispered  to  him,  that  among 
the  glorious  band,  who  had  there  laid  down  their  lives,  the 
name  of  the  chief  commander  should  not  have  been  wantins:. 
Intimidated  and  perplexed,  he  attempted  no  decisive  measures. 
^^  Of  Lavater  many  said,''  so  Bullinger  tells  us,  "  that  he  was 
frightened,  and  durst  no  longer  talk  among  and  with  the  people. 
The  constrained  position  of  the  general  had  its  effect  upon  the 
army.  Several  of  the  cowardly  and  faithless  began  to  desert, 
rain  set  in,  and  provisions  grew  scarce.  In  spite  of  every  en- 
treaty, to  protect  at  least  the  Zurichan  frontier,  the  army  of 
Bern  retreated  to  Bremgarten."  "  Why  do  you  hesitate  to  fol- 
low?'' said  the  ensign  Hugi  of  Solothurn.  "You  shut  your 
eyes  on  your  own  necessities,  as  your  fathers  before  you  in  the 
old  Zurich  war.  As  they,  so  you  are  at  variance;  as  they,  so 
you  have  lost  the  hearts  of  your  Confederate  brethren;  you 
have  no  power  to  make  further  resistance,  and  yet  you  will  not 
give  way." 

And  in  fact  the  government  did  not  consider  it  just  then 
consistent  with  honor  and  duty.  It  was  resolved  not  to  enter- 
tain the  proposals  for  peace  made  by  the  mediators;  because  one 
of  the  conditions  of  the  Catholics  was,  that  in  the  Territories 


414  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI. 

it  should  be  decided  by  a  new  vote  whether  they  would  return 
to  the  old  or  continue  in  the  new  faith.  Bern  also  assented  to 
this  course.  But  now  an  army  of  4,000  men  from  the  Five 
Cantons,  among  whom  were  the  lawless  foreign  mercenaries  of 
Ab  Isola,  rushed  upon  the  cottages  and  hamlets  of  the  unpro- 
tected territory  of  Zurich,  overran  the  left  shore  of  the  lake, 
and  ravao'ed  as  far  down  as  Thalweil.  Terror  seized  the  can- 
ton.  Many  fled  to  the  city;  all  the  roads  were  filled  with 
weeping-women  and  children,  mingled  with  lowing  herds,  and 
the  alarm-bells  resounded  on  every  side.  The  councils  were 
called  together  and  the  troops  still  lying  at  Bremgarten  sum- 
moned by  their  honor  and  oath  to  hasten  up  without  delay. 
They  obeyed,  but  in  vain  were  the  Bernese,  first  by  the  treas- 
urer Eddlebach  and  then  by  the  burgomaster  Roist  and  two 
associate  councilmen,  conjured  by  everything  which  they  held 
sacred,  this  once  to  come  to  the  rescue  of  their  old  confederate- 
sister,  only  to  enter  the  city  for  its  immediate  protection,  whilst 
the  Zurichers  would  fight  without  the  walls.  The  cold  answer 
was,  ihat  they  would  think  over  the  matter,  and  write  to  the 
troops  at  Zofingen  and  the  government  at  Bern.  Not  all  of 
Diessbach's  army  shared  this  feeling  with  him.  Jacob  3Iai 
thrust  his  sword  at  the  bear  in  the  banner,  as  though  he  would 
rouse  him  up  to  action.  The  field-chaplain  Kolb  spake  thus  to 
the  assembled  soldiery:  "Your  forefathers  in  a  like  case  would 
have  swum  through  the  Rhine  to  attack  the  enemy;  at  the 
slightest  call  they  marched  to  battle;  the  Gospel  itself  does  not 
move  you."  These  words  were  uttered  with  impunity;  but 
yet  they  produced  no  effect.  The  men  of  Solothurn,  Basel, 
Schaffhausen,  Biei  and  Muehlhauscn  also  joined  the  Bernese. 
Captain  Friedbolt  of  St.  Gall  alone  declared,  that  by  order  of 
his  superiors,  he  would  place  life  and  property  at  the  disposal 
of  Zurir-h,  and  a  small  troop  from  Bischoffzell  followed  him. 
The  maiority  of  the  Thurgovians  and  Toggcnburgcrs,  who  were 


LIFE    OF    ZWIXGLI.  --iT^ 

still  encamped  with  the  Zurichers,  returned  to  theii     .omos. 

Meanwhile,  the  Catholics  retired  again  before  the  Zuricherri, 
inarching  up  the  left  shore,  with  a  reinforcement  of  1,000  Graa- 
buehdners,  ferried  over  from  the  right  shore  of  the  lake.  The 
army  under  Hans  Escher,  who  had  succeeded  Lavater  in  the 
chief  command,  encamped  above  Horgen  on  the  heights  of  the 
Zimmerberg.  Zurich  now  stood  unsupported,  except  by  her  con- 
federates of  Graubuenden  and  a  few  from  St.  Gall.  The  rural 
districts  were  sighing  for  peace,  and  the  Five  Cantons  began  also 
to  desire  it.  The  absence  of  all  the  able-bodied  men  increased  the 
distress  at  home,  which  was  already  great  enough  by  reason  of 
the  famine;  the  inclemency  of  an  early  winter  gave  few  charms 
to  a  life  in  the  field,  and  the  hamlets  on  the  frontier,  crowded 
with  soldiers,  began  to  feel  the  pinchings  of  want.  Under 
these  circumstances  a  letter  was  addressed  by  the  Five  Cantons 
to  the  "Parishes  general  and  special,  who  are  subject  to  Zu- 
rich," requesting  them  to  conclude  a  special  peace  with  the 
Catholics,  in  case  the  capital  would  refuse  to  do  so.  This  pro- 
duced a  great  excitement.  Deputies  from  various  parts  of  the 
canton  appeared  before  the  government,  with  the  earnest  prayer, 
that  some  means  might  be  devised  to  prevent  further  invasion 
and  relieve  them  from  the  burdens  of  the  war,  which  had  now 
became  almost  intolerable.  After  a  long  and  violent  struggle, 
the  peace-party  triumphed  in  the  Council.  Negotiations  were 
opened;  but  the  decision  on  the  side  of  the  Zurichers,  accord- 
ing to  ancient  custom,  was  transferred  to  the  commons-at-war, 
to  whom  the  Council  sent  several  of  its  most  influential  members 
as  deputies. 

Whilst  the  latter  were  assembling,  the  leaders  of  the  Catho- 
lics deliberated  over  the  conditions  to  be  proposed.  Their 
views  were  conflicting.  Several  of  the  most  violent  asserted 
that  now  the  time  had  come  to  compel  the  city  and  canton  of 
Zurich  to  return  to  the  old  faith,  and  that  the  restoration  of  the 


416  LIFE   OP   ZWINGLI. 

mass  should  be  made  an  indispensable  condition  of  peace.— 
Zurich,  the  schultheiss  Golder  declared,  would  never  consent 
to  this.  He  was  supported  in  his  opinion  by  the  landammen 
Froger  and  Toss.  And  they  even  succeeded  in  securing  for 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Territories,  with  the  exception  of  the 
free  bailiwicks  and  the  burghers  of  Rapperschweil  and  Wesen, 
the  privilege  of  retaining  the  Reformation,  provided  all  those, 
who  henceforth  might  wish  to  return  to  the  mass,  should  be 
permitted  to  do  so.  One  solitary  voice  objected  to  this  liber- 
ality, ^gidius  Tschudi  deplored  the  result.  ^^The  counsel 
was  pernicious,"  said  he,  "and  a  great  injury  to  the  true 
Catholic  faith,  to  which  God  had  given  the  victory.  Accord- 
ingly, neither  the  schuWieiss,  nor  they  who  followed  him,  namely, 
amman  Froger  of  Uri  and  amnian  Toss  of  Zug,  and  several 
others,  lived  many  years  afterward." 

Meanwhile  the  consultation  was  opened  in  the  Zurichan 
camp  by  Escher,  with  the  exhortation  neither  to  be  too  fearful, 
nor  yet  too  passionate.  He  said  that  the  position  of  Zurich  was 
critical,  but  not  at  all  desperate ;  and  that  God  would  undoubt- 
edly defend  his  Gospel,  in  which  we  should  persevere  to  the 
last  extremity.  So  to  do  was  the  unanimous  resolution.  But 
then  opinions  varied  as  to  what  should  be  done  in  regard  to 
the  Territories  Several  persons,  and  among  whom  Sergeant 
George  Mueller  was  prominent,  made  strong  appeals  to  the  sacred 
duty,  which  bound  them  to  act  for  the  people  of  the  Territories, 
who  had  been  summoned  to  a  common  resistance  and  assured 
of  protection  and  help,  as  they  would  for  their  own.  Others, 
on  the  contrary,  endeavored  to  uphold  the  right  of  the  Five 
Cantons  to  name  conditions  of  peace  in  this  case.  But  the 
following  speech  of  an  aged  amman,  Suter  of  the  Horgerberg, 
had  the  greatest  influence  in  bringing  matters  to  a  conclusion. 

"Our  general  has  spoken  for  a  long  time,  and  exhorted  us 
not  to  be  in  a  hurry  to  make  peace.     This  perhaps  might  Buit 


LIFE    OF    ZWINfiLI.  417 

our  Lords  in  the  city.     They  have  less  to  lose  than  we.     Their 
support  and  revenues  are  sure,  but  our  houses  and  hamlets  are 
exposed  to  destruction.     We  have  now  been   beaten  twice  by 
the    enemy,  and  suffered  a  great  defeat.     It  is  easily  seen  that 
luck  is  against  us.     And  there  is  no  use  to  comfort  ourselves 
because  we  have  an  abundance  of  supplies  and  provisions  and 
ouj'  enemies  none.  For  the  gi'eater  their  need,  the  greater  will  be 
their  desire  to  injure  us.    Necessity  drives  them.     It  has  already 
stirred  up  fury  and  revenge  amongst  them,  and  wrought  great 
mischief,  not  only  that  we  have  violated  the  federal  compact  and 
the  Landfriede  toward    them,  but  also  that  we  have  denied 
them  the  right  to  take  away   provisions ;  hence  God  is  now 
angry  at  us  and  fights  himself  against  us.     We  cannot  rely  on 
the  aid  of  the  Bernese.     What   good  has   all  their  force  done 
us?     We  have  not  yet  been  able  to  prevail  on    them,  in   spite 
of  every  prayer  and  entreaty,  to  defend  the  city  of  our  Lords, 
whilst  we  of  the  Ilorger  are  willing  to  incur  the  risk  of  danger, 
notwithstanding,  they  can  lie  there  in  security,  since  our  Lords 
have  commanded  us  to  encamp   against  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy.  "  The  Bernese  marched  up  very  slowly  to  the  battle- 
field of  Cappel,  and  helped   us  very  little,  and  they  would  not 
consent  to  send  their  troops  to  the  Zugerberg.     Kemember  the 
old  saying,  handed  down  from   our  forefathers  :  ^Hhe  men  of 
Zurich  will  suffer  loss  rather  than  dishonor;  the  men  of  Bern 
dishonor  rather  than   loss.''     When   we    of  Zurich  undertake 
anything,  we  stake  our  all  upon  it,  and  look  for  success  or  fail- 
ure ;  but  the  Bernese  are  just  the  reverse,  sharing  the  victory 
with  us  in  every  enterprise,  without  putting  their  own  skins  in 
danger.  *     Some  one  has  said,  <A  loss  should  bring  a  man  to  his 
senses.'     Since  then  we  have  experienced  loss  upon   loss,  we 
certainly  ought  to  stop  and  think." 

"    On  the  contrary,  in  the  civil  -vrars  between  the  two  reliffioxis  parties 
daring  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth  centuries,  the  Bernese  "put 


418  LIFE    OF    ZWINGLI 

After  this  the  negotiations  were  prosecuted  vigorously  on  all 
sides.  The  commander-in-chief,  with  a  numerous  guard,  went 
over  to  the  leaders  of  the  Five  Cantons ;  a  second  meeting  was 
held  the  next  day  and  a  treaty  of  peace  concluded,  of  which 
the  following  are  the  chief  articles :  The  Keformation  shall  be 
guaranteed  in  Zurich  and  all  her  immediate  dependencies,  as 
well  as  in  those  parts  of  the  Territories,  where  it  has  already 
been  received ;  yet  all  those,  who  may  wish  to  return  to  the 
mass,  or  to  prove  by  a  new  vote,  which  is  the  prevailing  party, 
shall  be  at  liberty  to  do  so.  Church  property  was  to  be  divi- 
ded according  to  the  census.  Zurich  pledged  herself  to  abstain 
from  any  further  intervention,  where  she  had  no  claim  to  rule. 
The  Christian  Bucrgcrrecht  and  the  first  Lain^friede  were 
abro":ated.  The  few  remaining:  articles  were  devoted  to  dama- 
ges,  or  the  restitution  of  property,  which  had  been  seized. 
During  the  formation  of  the  treaty  the  name  of  "  Confeder- 
ates'' was  once  more  heard.  And  now,  after  its  conclusion, 
the  deputies  dismounted  from  their  horses  and  knelt  down  in 
prayer.  Then  Captain  Escher  stepped  up  to  the  sclmltlidss 
Golder  and  the  bailiffs  of  the  Five  Cantons,  and  offered  his 
hand  to  each  of  them.  Tears  stood  in  every  eye.  They  gave 
each  other  their  canteens  to  drink  from,  took  a  friendly  leave 
and  returned  to  their  respective  camps. 

But  then  a  hard  destiny,  fines,  punishments,  the  oppression 
of  soldiers,  quartered  upon  them,  and  a  partial  loss  of  their 
rights,  were  looked  for  by  the  inhabitants  of  Rapperschweil,  the 
people  in  Caster  and  the  free  bailiwicks,  and  especially  the 
cities  of  Bremgarten  and  Mellingen.  Zurich  had  attempted 
to  do  what  she  could,  at  least  for  the  latter,  and  invited  them, 
through  Rudolph  Stoll,  to  send  deputies  to  her  negotiation  with 
the  Five  Cantons.     They  refused  to  do  it,  relying  on  the  pro- 

their  skins  in  danger,''  whilst  tho  Zurichers  did  not;  though  with  just 
fts  little  success,  at  least  in  the  first. 


LIFE    OF    ZWINQLT.  410 

tection  promised  by  the  Bernese,  a  part  of  whose  forces  were 
yet  lying  in  their  neighborhood.  But  these  retired,  as  soon  as 
the  Catholics  turned  against  them  with  serious  purpose,  and 
prepared  for  action,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  peace  with 
Zurich.  Urgently  and  sadly  did  the  two  cities  beg  the  Bern- 
ese not  to  leave  them  helpless — to  make  some  proposals  at 
least  in  their  behalf.  The  schulthehs  Mutschli  rode  to  Aarau 
after  the  commander  Diessbach.  He  could  remember,  he  there 
eaid  to  him,  that  it  was  only  with  reluctance,  and  after  repeated 
orders  from  Zurich  and  Bern,  that  Bremgarten  had  prohibited 
the  sale  of  provisions  to  the  Five  Cantons— that  the  vengeance 
of  the  enemy  was  sure,  and  their  destruction  very  probable. 
Thus  also  spoke  the  people  of  Mellingen,  as  well  as  those  of 
the  0-ee  bailiwicks.  <' We  do  not  treat  you  in  this  manner  wil- 
lingly/' answered  Diessbach,  "but  under  the  pressure  of  neces- 
sity. Act  according  to  circumstances;  Bern  must  take  care  of 
her  own  rights."  Then  Mutschli  turned  away  with  the  words: 
"Jeremiah,  the  prophet,  has  spoken:  ^Cursed  be  he  who  trusts 
in  an  arm  of  flesh!'  This  has  been  fulfilled  to  us  this  day. 
You  cast  us  off  in  our  misery.  How  can  we  then  ever  respect 
your  claims  ?  God  in  Heaven  judge  between  us  ! "  Once  more 
they  came  to  Zurich  with  prayers  for  succor,  and  immediately 
five  deputies  were  dispatched  to  the  Catholics  at  Muri,  to  in 
tercede  in  their  behalf.  "  You  shall  ride  night  and  day,"  so 
they  were  instructed,  "and  not  give  over  till  the  oppression  of 
the  people  is  removed,  and  you  have  obtained  peace  for  them." 
But  the  Five  Cantons  remained  inexorable,  and  the  best  that 
Zurich  could  do  for  her  forsaken  allies  was  to  open  her  own  gates 
for  the  reception  of  the  most  needy.  Bichly  did  one  of  these 
fugitives  repay  her  for  that  act  of  kindness.  In  Henry  Bul- 
linger,  the  canton  found  the  most  worthy  successor  of  her 
reformer.  His  talent,  his  mildness  of  character,  his  wise 
limitation  of  himself  to  what   belonged  directly  to  his  calling, 


420  LIFE    OF    Z  WING  LI. 

appeased  the  wide-spread  discontent  with  the  clergy,  especially 
those  from  abroad,  to  whose  instigations  the  late  confusion  and 
disaster  were  attributed ;  whilst  on  the  other  hand,  his  ample 
stores   of  knowledge,  his  unshaken  firmness,  where  duty  was 
concerned,  and   his  unwearied  zeal  maintained  the  freedom  of 
the  Gospel  and  the  cause  of  the  Reformation,  as  far  as  could 
be  in  the  midst  of  the  general   exhaustion.     Meanwhile  there 
was  no    hindrance  to  the  return  of  the  old  estate  to  the  limits 
of  the  canton  and   outside  of  it.     Numerous  altars  were  re- 
stored.    The  Catholic  church  and  her  priests   awoke  to  renew- 
ed activity.     Into  the  desolate   cells  of  St.  Gall,  Muri,  Einsie- 
deln,  Wettingen,  Rheinau,  Katharinenthal,  Ilermatschweil  and 
Guadenthal  marched  back  their  exiled,  or  fugitive  occupants, 
and  in  the  feeling  of  victory,  arose  to  new  and  stronger  power. 
And  now,  what  docs  this  history  teach?    What  does  it  teach 
every  succeeding  generation  ?    That  in    all  centuries  wisdom 
and  mildness,  as  well  as  rashness  and  violence,  are    the  same. 
The  former   are  a  blessing   to    the    nations,  full  of  light  and 
warmth ;  the  latter  only  lead   to  unfruitful  reactions.     What- 
ever the  Heformers   did  and  said  for  the  liberty  of  the  Gospel 
has  remained  and  borne  rich  fruits.     All  attempts  on  the  other 
hand,  to  help  this  liberty  to  a  triumph,  in  the  way  of  violence, 
have  only  wrought    injury.     So,  too,  in  our    times,  no  good  is 
to  be  hoped  for  from  av//  party,  whether  under  civil  or  ecclesi- 
astical fbrm,  the   inspiring  soul  of  which    is    not    the  divine 
breath  of  love.     The  stronger  the  independence    of  the  indi- 
vidual and  the   power  of  national  feeling  rise    along  with  the 
everywhere    growing  freedom  of  the   press,  that   engine  of  re- 
formation   in  the   hands  of  the  Almighty,  the  more  indispen- 
sable does  it  become  for  those  who   would  lead  others,  to  win 
them  over  by  conscientious  persuasion.     But  he  alone  can  pro- 
duce any   permanent  impression,  who  along  with  the  free,  true 
and  loving  word  unites  the  power  of  his  own  example.     Think- 


LIFE   OF   ZWINGLI.  421 

ers,  indeed,  might  be  willing  to  listen  to  the  former,  but  the 
latter,  speaks  more  clearly  than  any  mere  doctrine  ever  can, 
to  the  very  heart  of  the  people.  Henceforward,  naked  power 
can  establish  nothing.  No  longer  can  the  strong  mind  (and  this 
is  the  character  of  the  coming  age)  rule  the  world ;  only  the 
strong  and  good  will  be  able  to  show,  liow  God  rules  it;  but  the 
princes  and  nations,  who  recognize  this  the  soonest,  shall  become 
the  wisest,  and  they  also  will  attain  the  greatest  power. 


DATE  DUE 

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GAYLORD 

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The  Life  and  times  of  Ulric  Zwingli 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00060  4878 


